Page 164 - CW E-Magazine (19-9-2023)

News from Abroad

BANKING ON INNOVATION

Solvay boosts research infrastructure in Shanghai

Belgian chemicals major, Solvay, its Material Application & Develop-
has expanded its China Research & ment Lab in Shanghai. The lab will
Innovation (R&I) Centre, with the cater to the growing demand for tailored
inauguration of a new research building high-performance material solutions
in the Solvay Shanghai Technology Park. from major local end markets such as
automotive, new energy, life solutions
The new R&I building, Magnolia, and pharmacy, smart devices and semi-
is home to several state-of-the-art labo- conductors.
ratories. Among its notable features
is a pilot hall dedicated to advanced Established in 1997, the Solvay
materials applications. It is also home a stronger research force in China, we China R&I Centre has grown into the
to purpose-built spaces customised for will accelerate innovations that drive Group’s third largest research hub in
both industrial applications and con- circular economy solutions and a sus- the world, with a team of around 170
sumer goods research. The new innova- tainable future in response to the global scientists, engineers and technicians.
tion platform serves critical sectors like megatrends and the ever-changing local In the past five years, the centre filed
green hydrogen, electronics, and semi- needs,” she added. 89 patent applications, and published
conductors, and features an automa- 84 papers on international scientific
tion & robotics lab. The company has invested more magazines. The R&I centre’s key com-
than RMB4-bn (approx. €5-mn) in its petencies include developing advanced
“The Chinese market is strategically Chinese R&I hub since 2005, to better materials applications; and strengthening
important in our global strategy and we support local customers. synthesis & process to bring innovative
are willing to increase our investments solutions to key markets such as trans-
to address the demands here,” said In addition to the new research portation, industrial applications, and
Ms. Ilham Kadri, Solvay CEO. “With building, Solvay has recently launched consumer goods.

PROCUREMENT NETWORK

Japanese companies partner to develop SAF

feedstock supply chain

Idemitsu Kosan, a Japanese petro- that are less competitive with food the Japanese government and aviation
leum company, and LOPS Corp., a crops. Through this agreement, the industry’s goal of replacing 10% of fuel
Japan-based trading company that two companies will utilise Idemitsu consumption by Japanese airlines with
supplies oil and fats, are set to conduct Kosan’s petroleum product manufac- SAF by 2030.
a joint study focused on the procure- turing technology, LOPS’ knowledge
ment of feedstock for sustainable avia- of animal and vegetable oils & fats, To reach those goals, Idemitsu
tion fuel (SAF) production. and their respective supply chains, to Kosan has announced plans for an
procure SAF feedstock, study optimis- alcohol-to-jet project at its Chiba
The two companies aim to establish ation and cost reduction of storage and Complex, which is scheduled to begin
a system to stably procure SAF feed- marine & land transport, and establish production in FY2026. The company
stocks such as used cooking oil from a system and structure for stable pro- is also considering the deployment of
various parts of Japan by the late 2020s. curement. hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids
(HEFA) technology, which produces
SAF is produced from non-fossil Idemitsu Kosan is working to SAF via the hydroprocessing of waste
derived raw materials, but one of the establish a domestic SAF production cooking oil or other renewable oil
challenges is to secure raw materials system of 500,000 kl/year to achieve feedstock.

164 Chemical Weekly September 19, 2023

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