Clariant and its US technology partner CB&I are developing a custom-built propane dehydrogenation (PDH) plant for China’s Xuzhou HaiDing Chemical Technology. The agreement includes a license and engineering design for a 600,000 t/y facility in Pizhou, Jiangsu province, China, based on Clariant’s Catofin catalyst and heat-generating material (HGM). A timescale for the project was not revealed.

The Catofin catalyst is used to produce olefins such as propylene or isobutylene from light paraffin feedstocks. HGM is a patented metal-oxide material loaded with the catalyst that increases the selectivity and yield of the Catofin units.

The contract follows another PDH project awarded to Clariant and CB&I in February this year by China’s Dongguan Grand Resource Science & Technology.

Globally, nine Catofin PDH units have been commissioned to date, producing more than 4.5 million t/y of propylene.

In separate news, the Swiss specialty chemicals producer is launching a 3D printing business to provide high-quality products for premium and customized printer filaments. The new business will support the fast-changing additive manufacturing technology, which supplies complex end-use products such as air ducts, drones, lights and parts for manufacturing equipment.

The Muttenz-based group said it will work closely with customers on polymer, additive and colorant selection to address typical end-use conditions such as weathering, flame retardancy and electrical properties.