Fine and speciality chemicals
The latest news relating to the fine and speciality chemicals industry, including regulation, litigation, business news and relevant industrial and academic research, from the Royal Society of Chemistry's magazine, Chemistry World
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PodcastBench-stable butyllithium & secrets of Pompeii’s limescale
In this episode, we discuss the latest formulations designed to make a set of fiery reagents safer, explore what limescale can tell us about ancient civilizations and hear the latest headlines.
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OpinionCarbon border taxes may do more harm than good
Industry argues UK proposals are flawed and will not promote decarbonisation
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BusinessSabic offloads petrochemicals and plastics plants in Europe and Americas
German private equity firms Aequita and Mutares aim to return struggling plants to profitability
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BusinessNew reagents take the burn out of butyllithium
Merck KGaA’s non-pyrophoric butyllithium in poly(α-olefin) oil make BuLi stable to air and water
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BusinessFunding boost for Grangemouth whisky waste-to-chemicals firms
Governments hope £9 million in grants will help MiAlgae and Celtic Renewables replace oil-refining jobs
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BusinessPlastic recycling is contracting when it needs to grow
High costs, oversupply of virgin polymers and complex political environment are challenging industry
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BusinessChemicals industry roundup 2025
Europe hit hard by China’s independence push, but India is growing
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BusinessAkzoNobel-Axalta merger gives coatings firm extra layers
Pursuit of scale drives continued consolidation across coatings sector
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OpinionChanging the rules of global chemicals trade
Chemical dumping claims reflect US and China’s focus on national interests ahead of global markets
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BusinessHow a weak rubber supply chain threatens US national security
Irene Yurovska raises the alarm on US reliance on Chinese imports for critical chemical additives
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BusinessUK firm reaches tonne scale MOF manufacturing
Promethean Particles’s continuous flow process can produce carbon-capturing material at 100kg/hr
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BusinessJ&J now faces talc cancer claims in the UK
Alongside nearly 70,000 US lawsuits, over 3000 claimants have filed joint UK legal action
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BusinessAlgenesis cracks diisocyanate problem to make fully bio-based polyurethane
Process combines algal fermentation with flow chemistry and avoids hazardous phosgene
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BusinessBASF sells coatings business to Carlyle in €7.7 billion deal
Deal covers automotive and surface treatment businesses and follows earlier sale of decorative paints
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BusinessAt least 16 dead in factory and chemical warehouse fire in Bangladesh
Smoke and gas from chemical fire trapped and killed factory workers
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Business16 dead in US munitions factory explosion
Plant levelled by blast, whose cause remains under investigation
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BusinessBASF begins building huge industrial heat pump for low-carbon steam
When powered by renewable electricity, BASF says system will cut carbon emissions by up to 98%
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BusinessFatal incidents at chemical plants in the US, India and Norway
Hydrogen and acid explosions, a fluorochemicals plant gas leak and a heavy lifting incident claimed at least four lives
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BusinessIndian chemist dies after methanol inhalation incident
Preliminary investigation highlights lack of protective equipment
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BusinessIndia introduces new rules to tackle chemical contamination sites
New legislation provides a legal framework for assessment and cleanup of 189 named chemicals