The technology and economics of several high performance polyesters is presented including modified PET (with isophthalic acid or cyclohexyldimethanol), polyethylene naphthalate, and polytrimethylene terephthalate. Applications and markets are also discussed.

Chemistry and process for making cyclic olefin copolymers is presented. The economics of their manufacture is compared to functionally equivalent polymers such as polycarbonate and polymethyl methacrylate.

Natural gas liquids extraction technologies are assessed. Economics of NGL extraction are presented.

Process and economics of propane and isobutane dehydrogenation processes. Potential new applications are assessed.

Comparative evaluation of ethyl benzene and styrene production: ethyl benzene routes include: Mobil/Badger vapor phase alkylation, dilute ethylene feedstock, Lummus/UOP liquid phase alkylation and aluminum chloride liquid phase process. Regional supply/demand forecasts are given.

Economic evaluation of maleic anhydride production: benzene based process and butane based route. Emerging BOC and Sisas/Conser technology also examined. Regional supply/demand forecasts.

Comparative economic evaluation of caprolactam production: Conventional processes including: DSM, Allied Signal phenol, Capropol process, SNIA process, and Toray process. Emerging Enichem hydrogen peroxide process is also presented. Regional supply/demand forecasts are given.

Economic evaluation of vinyl chloride monomer production: balanced oxychlorination process, emerging EVC ethane to VCM process. Regional supply/demand forecasts.

Comparative economic evaluation of MTBE production: CDTech etherification, UOP Ethermx process, Propylene oxide/MTBE process. ETBE also presented. Regional supply/demand forecasts are given.

Compares the economic evaluation of MMA production: acetone cyanohydrin, isobutylene, t-butyl alcohol, BASF ethylene hydroformylation, Asahi metahacrylonitrile, Mitsubishi Gas Chem. HCN recyle, Roehm carbonylation of propylene, Shell/ICI methyl acetylene. Regional Forecasts are given.