BUSINESS CONCENTRATES

Index, 1977 = 100a

136

134

132

130

128

126

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S O N D J F M A M J 1-1985-1 I 1986-

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a Seasonally adjusted.

Chemical production U.S. chemical output edged up slightly again in September, helped by basic chemicals. Accord­ing to the latest sea­sonally adjusted figures from the Federal Re­serve Board, production of chemicals and prod­ucts in September rose just 0.2% from down­ward revised August figures to an index of 134.7 (1977 = 100). Af­ter revisions, August output also was up 0.2% from the month before. On an annual basis, Sep­tember production of chemicals and products was up 4.3% from a year earlier. Output of the subcategory of basic chemicals in September climbed 0.6% from August to an index of 98.1. That follows, however, a decline of 0.7% from July to August. Year-to-year, September output of basic chemicals was only 0.7% ahead of September 1985. Production of synthetic materials in September declined on a month-to-month basis for the first time since May, dropping 1.3% to give a September index of 164.4. In August, output was up 0.5% from the previous month. On a 12-month basis, September production of synthetic materials was up 5.2% from a year earlier. Since production of chemicals and products was essentially flat in Sep­tember, the government's estimate of capacity utili­zation was flat, averaging 81.0% for the month, the same as in August, but up from 79.3% in September 1985. This gives a capacity utilization rate for the third quarter of 80.9%, up from 80.4% in the second quarter and 78.8% in third-quarter 1985.

Monsanto introduces modified carpet fiber Monsanto last week introduced a stain-resistant car­pet fiber to compete with those already marketed by Du Pont and Allied-Signal. The Monsanto fiber is basically a nylon 66 that is, after extrusion, coated with a proprietary polymer, tradenamed StainBlocker, to impart the stain resistance. Called Wear-Dated Gold Label carpet fiber, it is available in both staple and filament forms. The new fiber is being supplied to a number of carpet makers and has a five-year warranty against both wear and stain.

Chlorine output climbs in September Production of liquid chlorine in September increased 3.1% over the same month last year, to a total of 715,543 tons, according to figures from the Chlorine Institute. Output of chlorine gas, which includes that liquefied, increased 1.4% to 843,741 tons. At those levels, the industry was operating at about

80.2% of nameplate capacity in September, up from 78.4% in August and 75.7% in September 1985. Effec­tive capacity utilization, however, which excludes mothballed plants and temporary shutdowns, was 92.2% in September, up from 90.2% in August and 81.1% in September 1985. For the first nine months of this year, liquid chlorine production totaled about 6.76 million tons, an increase of 2.2% over the same period last year. Output of chlorine gas was essen­tially flat, at 7.89 million lb.

Kodak to withdraw from South Africa Add Eastman Kodak to the list of U.S. companies that are withdrawing from South African operations. But Kodak is going further than some of the other firms, saying that it not only will pull out of opera­tions in that country, but will not sell products in South Africa. Although Kodak has no chemical man­ufacturing operations in South Africa, it does sell chemical products there. Under the plan, that will cease by April 30,1987.

Goodrich to sell hose, belt business B. F. Goodrich has reached a definitive agreement to sell its industrial hose and belt business to H. K. Porter Co. for an undisclosed amount of cash. The transaction is expected to be completed in Decem­ber. Goodrich says the deal will cause a charge to fourth-quarter earnings of about $10 million. John D. Ong, Goodrich chairman, says the sale of the industrial hose and belt business was not a part of the restructuring program announced in 1985, but the business has not met the company's earnings expectations. H. K. Porter intends to offer jobs to all employees who apply for employment with Porter. There are 900 employees in the business.

Williams selling oil and gas properties Williams Cos. is selling the oil and gas properties owned by Williams Exploration Co. to Fina Oil & Chemical Co., the principal operating subsidiary of American Petrofina and American Cometra, owned by Cometra Oil Co. S.A. of Brussels. American Petrofina is 82% owned by Petrofina S.A., which is also headquartered in Brussels. The producing prop­erties are located in Texas, Louisiana, and Colorado. The deal is scheduled for completion by year's end.

Grace catalyst may reduce acid rain W. R. Grace has begun trial production of catalysts that will significantly cut smokestack nitrogen oxide

. emissions, and thus help reduce acid rain. The test runs are being conducted at Grace's recently com­pleted catalyst plant in Bergisch-Gladbach, West Ger­many. Production will be ready to start in January with an annual capacity of 2000 cubic meters of catalysts. The plant will be operated by Feldmuehle-Grace Noxeram GmbH, a joint venture between Grace

November 24, 1986 C&EN 7

[BUSINESS CONCENTRATES

and Feldmuehle A.G., a West German producer of paper, packaging, and industrial products. The plant will manufacture extruded honeycomb structures of ceramic based on titanium dioxide containing vana­dium pentoxide and tungsten trioxide catalyst mate­rials. The catalyst systems reduce smokestack emis­sions by converting flue gas and injected ammonia into nitrogen and water. The technology is being used under licensing agreements with Sakai Chemi­cal, Mitsubishi Petrochemical, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, all of Japan.

Rohm & Haas announces Mexican plant In a move to counter lower-priced imports, Rohm & Haas says it soon will begin making Plexiglas acrylic sheet in Matamoros, Mexico. The plant, which will come on stream in the first quarter of 1987, initially will produce cast acrylic sheet in thicknesses of 0.25 to 1.0 inch. John R. Frazier, the company's business manager for sheet products, says, "The establish­ment of a plant in close proximity to Rohm & Haas' world-scale methyl methacrylate facilities in Houston improves the company's ability to serve acrylic sheet customers while remaining competitive against im­port pressures from developing countries."

Cal Bio to buy out research partnership California Biotechnology last week became the sec­ond biotechnology company in a month to announce plans to buy out a limited research partnership. Ac­cording to Cal Bio, the company will offer 1000 shares of its common stock, 500 warrants to buy common stock, and $1000 for each of its 2492 out­standing partnership units. Based on its current share price of $13.75, the company would pay about $46 million to buy back the 1982 offering that raised about $27 million used to fund development of two human cardiovascular products, animal vaccines, and human growth hormone. Earlier this month, Genen-tech announced plans to buy back two limited re­search partnerships.

International Action on nitrogen oxides takes shape Experts from around the world will be turning at­tention in the coming months to how best reduce the level of nitrogen oxides emissions on a concerted international level. The decision was taken in Gene­va, Switzerland, at the fourth session of the execu­tive body for the Convent ion on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution. Set up in 1979 under the aegis of the United Nations Economic Commis­sion for Europe in Geneva, 30 countries and the European Economic Community now belong. The aim of the working group is to have a draft protocol ready for discussion, and possible adoption, at the next session of the executive body a year from now.

The move reflects growing concern about the health and environmental hazards associated with rising levels of nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere. UNECE already has drawn up a protocol to cut annual sulfur emissions 30% from their 1980 base levels by 1993 at the latest. This is nearly ready to go into force.

U.K. creates catalysis center Fundamental study of the chemistry and physics of catalysts will be the thrust of the newly formed Center for Innovative Catalysis at Liverpool Univer­sity, England. Research will concentrate mainly on heterogeneous and homogeneous catalyst systems with an eye to industrial needs. Such companies as Imperial Chemical Industries and Johnson Matthey have expressed interest in becoming affiliate mem­bers. For an annual fee, their representatives will sit on the center's management board and maintain an overview of the work undertaken. It is the brain­child of David A. King, professor of physical chemis­try and surface chemistry at the university, who ex­pects the initiative to attract U.K. government fund­ing. A director of the center will be appointed soon.

Computer system saves plant operating costs A novel computer-based system developed by Impe­rial Chemical Industries in the U.K. to monitor and adjust the operations of chemical plants now is avail­able on the open market. Tradenamed Auditor, it results in significant savings in energy use, time, and manpower, as well as reducing the amount of product that otherwise might be lost during distilla­tions, claims Industrial Efficiency Systems, the com­pany set up by ICI to sell advanced computer-based process management technology to a wide spectrum of industries. The system is based on a Digital Equip­ment Corp. PDP computer and is capable of scan­ning up to 384 variables at one-second intervals. Total installed cost of Auditor can range from about $70,000 to $140,000, depending on the complexity of the plant and the need for additional instrumenta­tion. However, the resulting cost savings will pay for the system in two years or less, IES maintains.

CdF Chimie has new boss Serge Tchuruk, 49, has bean appointed chairman of Paris-based CdF Chimie, the financially troubled chemicals arm of France's nationalized coal industry. He takes over from Michel Hug, former head of the French coal board. Tchuruk is no stranger to the chemicals scene. He comes to CdF Chimie from Rhône-Poulenc, which he joined in 1980 and rose to become second in command of France's largest chem­icals concern. Before that, he was with Mobil Oil for 15 years. Tchuruk's main preoccupation will be to revive the flagging fortunes of CdF Chimie, which makes a variety of chemicals, petrochemicals, and fertilizers. The company has been operating in the red for the past few years.

8 November 24, 1986 C&EN