Page 169 - CW E-Magazine (30-4-2024)

News from Abroad

place since 1991, drastically lowers to urban wastewater treatment plants will prices of medicines, leading to unin-
1,000 inhabitants the threshold at which have to progressively increase the share tended consequences on the availabi-
towns will be required by 2035 to elimi- of renewable energy used each year lity, affordability and accessibility of
nate all biodegradable organic materi- (20% by 2030; 40% by 2035; 70% by the products.
als before they can release their treated 2040 and 100% by 2045 on average at
used waters into the environment. the national level). According to Medicines for Europe,
the new rules might negatively impact
Towns with more than 150,000 Most importantly, the package the production of medicines that are
inhabitants will by 2039 have to remove establishes the principle of “the polluter already in short supply. Medicines for
all nitrogen and phosphorous, and by pays” by imposing greater contributions Europe also highlights “the complexity
2045 a wide range of micropollutants, from the pharmaceutical and cosmetic or potential impossibility of replacing
with intermediate targets to reduce them industries. According to the EU, 59% pharmaceuticals with greener alter-
in the meantime. Smaller towns (from of micropollutants in water treatment natives.”
10,000 inhabitants) will also be con- stations come from pharmaceutical pro-
cerned after 2045, under conditions. In ducers and 14% from cosmetics. These “We regret to see that only the pharma
addition, the text strengthens the moni- two sectors will be asked to cover 80% ceutical and cosmetics sectors will
toring of various public health para- of the extra investments needed to elimi- cover the Extended Producer Respon-
meters (such as known viruses and emer- nate micropollutants, with the remaining sibility (EPR) system set up the legisla-
ging pathogens), chemical pollutants, 20% covered by member states. tion. We believe that every stakeholder
including so-called “forever chemicals” contributing to micropollutants in the
(per- and polyfl uoroalkyl substances or The European Commission initially water must be part of any solution to
PFAS), and microplastics. wanted industry to cover the full cost, enable the cleanest water possible,”
but it dialled back its demands to avoid added the European Federation of Pharma
In addition, the text introduces an a burdensome fi nancial impact on labo- ceutical Industries and Associations
energy neutrality target, meaning that ratories that would indirectly affect the (EFPIA).

ELECTRONIC CHEMICALS
MGC to expand capacities in US for high purity

hydrogen peroxide and ammonium hydroxide

Japan’s Mitsubishi Gas Chemical in advance of the Texas
Company (MGC) has decided to expand plant expansion.
the Texas facility of its US arm, MGC
Pure Chemicals America Inc. (MPCA) In Texas, the capa-
that manufactures “super-pure” hydrogen city will be expanded by
peroxide and ammonium hydroxide 35,000-tpa of hydrogen
used in the semiconductor industry. peroxide and 5,000-tpa
of ammonium hydroxide,
These super-pure chemicals are pri- with production sche-
marily used as cleaning, etching, and duled to start in June 2025.
abrading agents in the semiconductor In Oregon, the capacity
wafer and device manufacturing pro- of hydrogen peroxide will
cesses. The increasing miniaturisation be raised by 35,000-tpa
of semiconductors in recent years has with production startup
been generating growing demand for North America with plants in Arizona, likely in September 2024.
a higher-quality chemical solution, the Oregan and Texas, is experiencing
company said. growing demand from major customers The current capacity of MPCA’s
building state-of-the-art plants and need Arizona plant is 140,000-tpa of hydrogen
MGC said that MPCA, which solutions to reduce supply risk. MPCA peroxide and 8,400-tpa of ammonium
boasts the largest supply capacity in is currently expanding its Oregon plant hydroxide.

Chemical Weekly April 30, 2024 169

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