here has already been earmarked formilitary applications, but Lukoil iscurrently negotiating to buy some ofits barytes requirements from thissource.

Industrial Minerals, Jun 2002, (417), 19

Singapore: Ishihara – TiO2

ISK Singapore, a wholly-ownedsubsidiary of Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha(ISK, of Osaka) is adopting a series ofmeasures designed to cut costs at its45,000 tonnes/y chloride-route TiO2pigment plant at Jurong. As fuel, theplant currently uses 3000 tonnes/y ofliquefied petroleum gas (LPG); it willsave an unspecified sum by switchingto natural gas. Also, it will install aS$2 M plant for making its owndeionised water, instead of buying itin.

Japan Chemical Week, 30 May 2002, 43 (2173), 9

Thailand: Tokai – carbon black

Tokai Carbon recently increasedcapacity at its Sriracha carbon blackplant from 60,000 tonnes/y to 65,000tonnes/y. (See also ‘Focus onPigments’, Apr 2002, 4). Now thecompany plans to spend Yen 2 bn toraise capacity here to 90,000 tonnes/yby 2004. As background to thisdecision, the company reported thatAsia currently accounts for about 40%of global carbon black consumption,estimated at between 7 M tonnes/yand 8 M tonnes/y. Consumption inAsia is growing at 4% per annum –about double the global averagegrowth rate.

Tokai Carbon is one of the world’stop ten suppliers, with a total capacityof 500,000 tonnes/y, derived fromplants in Thailand and Japan, plus itsalliance with DC Chemical in SouthKorea.

Japan Chemical Week, 30 May 2002, 43 (2173), 8

Ukraine: Prosyanoye – kaolin

JSC Prosyanoye GOK is one of theleading kaolin producers in theUkraine, with a capacity of about600,000 tonnes/y. The company hasan authorised capital base of $1.7 Mand employs 753 people. The StateProperty Fund has announced that it

wants to sell its 35.14% shareholdingin Prosyanoye, assessed as beingworth $620,000. However, severalconditions will be attached to the sale.The purchaser must keep the existingworkforce intact, at least for an initialperiod of six months. The purchasermust not allow kaolin production to falland must make a commitment to “thereconstruction of production and thedevelopment of modern technologieshere.”

Industrial Minerals, Jun 2002, (417), 20

US: Degussa – research centre forcarbon black, silica & silanes

Degussa has opened a new $7 Mlaboratory at Piscataway, NJ, whichwill concentrate on research oncarbon black, silicas, silanes andpharmaceutical polymers, servingthree business units: Aerosil andsilanes; advanced fillers andpigments; and Roehm specialityacrylics. The new laboratory has afloor area of 21,000 square feet.

Also, with effect from 1 January2002, the headquarters of thecompany’s Coatings & Colorantsdivision was transferred from Marl(Germany) to Parsippany, also in NewJersey. Degussa’s workforce in NewJersey has increased by 15% toaround 230 people.

The Coatings & Colorants divisionnow plans to set up a technicalservice centre in Singapore, with aparticular emphasis on serving Asianmanufacturers of paints and printinginks.

Farbe und Lack, May 2002, 108 (5), 125-126 (inGerman) & Adhesives Age, May 2002, 45 (5), 8

US: F & D plastics – plastics colorants

F & D Plastics Inc is committed tospending $250,000 on the installationof a new extrusion line and three newresin silos at its 27,000 sq ft site inLeominster, MA. The work should becompleted by the end of July 2002. Itshould enable F & D Plastics toexpand its business in the custommanufacture of plastic colourconcentrates. The company reportedsales at $7.5 M for 2001; the totalworkforce numbers 50 people.

Plastics News, 6 Jun 2002 (Website:http://www.plasticsnews.com)

HEALTH &SAFETY

Rhodamine-B, Malaysian shrimp-paste& US seed treatment

A recent survey conducted by theConsumers Association of Penang(CAP) found that samples of belacan(shrimp-paste) contained significantquantities of rhodamine-B, an allegedlycarcinogenic colorant. Under Malaysianlaw, rhodamine-B is not permitted foruse in colouring food. In fact,rhodamine-B is only allowed for use incolouring plastic and textile products.The CAP is urging the Minister ofHealth to find the culprits and then tostrictly implement the Food RegulationsAct of 1985, which provides foroffenders to be fined up to Rggt 5000and/or imprisoned for up to two years.

Last August, the US EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA) revoked alltolerances for rhodamine-B in food-contact applications, but at the sametime it “designated” the use ofrhodamine-B as a dye for seedtreatment only. This means that in thisparticular application, neither atolerance nor an exemption from therequirement of a tolerance is required.The EPA had reviewed and evaluatedall submitted data prior to determiningthat there was no uptake ofrhodamine-B when used as a dye forseed treatment.

The Star, 11 Jun 2002 (Website:http://www.thestar.com.my) & Federal Register, 2 Jun2002, 66 (149), 40170-40174 (Available from: FederalRegister Online via GPO Access [Website:http://www.access.gpo.gov])

Ban on azo colorants to be extended tocover children’s toys?

The German and Danish Governmentshave asked the European Commissionto tighten the safety regulations relatingto azo dyes and pigments. There is along series of EU directives, prohibitingthe use of a number of specified azocolorants for applications in the leatherand textile sectors. The German andDanish Governments are now callingfor the prohibitions to be extended tocover children’s toys. The Commissionhas agreed to carry out a scientific riskassessment, due for completion laterthis summer.

PPCJ, Polymers, Paint, Colour Journal, May 2002,192 (4452), 10

JUNE 2002 7

F O C U S O N P I G M E N T S