This report analyzes developments in bio-based butanediol (BDO) technologies. BDO (both 1,4-BDO and 2,3-BDO) derived from bio-based materials or processes can be used as is or converted into a number of chemical products - potentially improving the GHG profile of the process. This study assesses the technical, commercial, and economic aspects of producing different isomers of BDO via bio-based sources or processes. 

This report discusses the process technologies and economic considerations for tire pyrolysis, which is the thermal degradation of end-of-life tires to produce pyrolysis oil, pyrolysis gas, and char, which can be processed to produce recovered carbon black (rCB). The current status of the industry, and its potential outlook is discussed, as are production economics and viability in North America and Western Europe.

This report comments on the motivations behind the recent maleic anhydride (MAN) capacity additions and provides a high-level analysis of the business and strategic considerations as well as the technology availability from the perspective of a company entering or expanding into this market. As over 70 percent of the global capacity and all the announced capacity additions are/will be based on the n-butane route, the cost of production via this route for plants located in the United States, Western Europe, the Middle East, and China has been estimated for the first quarter of 2020.  This analysis is underpinned by a review of end-use sector consumption as well as regional market dynamics.

Thermoplastic polyolefin elastomers were developed over the past few decades as a means to bridge the gap between rubber and plastics using olefinic feedstocks.  Covered in this report are in-situ TPOs, compounded TPOs, TPVs, Polyolefin Elastomers and Plastomers, and Olefin Block Copolymers.