chemXplore Weekly 17 December 2025: Röhm PMMA Recycling Study | Technip Thailand CCS Contract

Industry trends

Circular feedstocks advanced as Röhm engaged NEXTCHEM on a feasibility study for Röhm's PMMA recycling plant in Germany, targeting r‑MMA with virgin-like quality via depolymerization. Strategic consolidation continued with Borealis’ move to scale chemical recycling through its strategic partnership with BlueAlp, aligning with rising PPWR-grade demand. Fluorine value chains edged toward resource recovery with AGC’s first UL2809 third-party verification for its Fluon PTFE G grade resin made using recycled fluorite. Waste-to-feedstock pilots broadened with BASF, Essity and TU Wien’s gasification pilot project to recycle absorbent hygiene products; expect more certified, high-spec recycled inputs to penetrate contact-sensitive and hygiene markets as municipalities and licensors partner up.

CCS momentum in Asia grew with Technip Energies winning a detailed engineering contract for the Arthit Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) project in Thailand, designed for up to 1 MtCO2/y. Electrolysis costs are in focus as Lummus and Advanced Ionics launched a pilot plant for green hydrogen production at Lummus's R&D facility in Pasadena. On the demand side, Johnson Matthey opened its first hydrogen internal combustion engine (H₂ICE) facility in Gothenburg to validate heavy-duty transport pathways. Process electrification advanced in minerals with thyssenkrupp Polysius set to develop the first industrial flash calcination plant using Electric Arc Calciner (EAC) technology for lower-carbon lime; together these moves tighten the integration between capture, electrons-to-molecules, and end-use uptake, potentially easing future abatement cost curves.

Scale-up execution remains pivotal: Avantium appointed Hero de Jager as interim Chief Operations Officer to steer the FDCA flagship start-up while also signaling a shift in the timeline for securing government-related funding. In elastomers, Michelin–IFPEN–Axens reported readiness milestones on the BioButterfly project, targeting mid‑2026 homologation for bio‑butadiene derived from bioethanol. Market pull and application development are being reinforced as Nouryon builds a customer experience and innovation center in Itupeva, Brazil for bio‑based chelates and biopolymer solutions. Expect commercialization timelines to hinge on financing and customer validation, with regional tech centers accelerating formulary adoption.

Industrial strategy shaped capital plans in Europe as BASF signed a new site agreement for BASF SE at the Ludwigshafen site, anchoring investment and jobs through 2028. Portfolio realignment and local champions featured in India, where AkzoNobel finalized the sale of Akzo Nobel India Limited to the JSW Group. EU regulatory frameworks also steered infrastructure ownership with Uniper initiating the sale of its 20% stake in the OPAL gas pipeline as the asset transitions into the Hydrogen Core Network. In Southeast Europe, OMV Petrom progressed energy security via advancing the Neptun Deep project; collectively, these moves signal policy- and cost-driven reallocation of assets and newbuilds, likely influencing where value chains cluster next.