US intermediate and specialty chemicals producer Cornerstone Chemical has licensed technology from Chemours for its proposed hydrogen cyanide (HCN) plant. The DuPont carve-out  will also provide project development support.

Detailed engineering and design work will take place during the first half of 2018, prior to a final investment plan being agreed during the third quarter of next year. Cornerstone said the new plant, which will be built at its existing site in Waggaman, Louisiana, will benefit from low-cost US shale gas. The plant is expected to start up in 2020. Capacity figures were not disclosed.

In July, private equity group H.I.G. Capital sold Cornerstone to an affiliate of LittleJohn & Co., another private investor. H.I.G. Capital bought the business, which was originally part of Cytec Industries, in February 2011. Cytec was itself acquired by Solvay in December 2015.