Chemours is to invest $200 million to increase capacity and advance technology for its Nafion brand ion exchange materials at the site in Villers-Saint-Paul, France. The investment is subject to obtaining the necessary permits and licences for construction and operations. It includes ionomers and associated membranes.

Chemours has announced a planned $200 million investment to increase capacity and advance technology for its industry-leading Nafion ion exchange materials. The company is now evaluating potential locations in the US and Europe for the investment, in accordance with applicable regulatory frameworks.

Ecolab has agreed to acquire Purolite, a supplier of ion exchange resins for the separation and purification of solutions based in Pennsylvania, for $3.7 billion in cash. This should close within Q4, subject to regulatory clearance and other closing conditions. It is expected to be revenue-neutral in 2022 and slightly accretive in 2023.

Purolite operates in more than 30 countries and employs about 1,000 people, with expected 2021 sales of around $400 million. It will operate as a separate global business unit and it results will be reported within the Life Sciences division.

Lanxess has announced that it is focusing its water treatment technologies business on the ion exchange (IX) resins business and will build a new plant. As a result, it is selling its reverse osmosis (RO) membranes business to Suez of France, on undisclosed terms. This should be concluded within 2020.