THE WOODLANDS, Texas (July 10, 2007) - Dr. Ronald Knudsen has been selected as an honoree for the 2007 ACS Heroes of Chemistry Program, which honors chemical innovators whose work has led to the welfare and progress of humanity. Knudsen has dedicated over 20 years to developing the Selective 1-Hexene Process (S1H), a process that revolutionized alpha olefin technology by allowing ethylene to be selectively trimerized to 1-hexene. The selective nature of the catalyst technology and the continued growth in global demand for polyethylene products qualify this technology as a significant contribution to the petrochemical industry.
Knudsen has improved lives throughout the world through his work with 1-hexene, a component critical to the manufacture of polyethylene, a plastic resin used to produce plastic pipe, milk jugs, film, detergent bottles and food and beverage containers. The 1-hexene co-monomer improves polyethylene, making it an ideal product for packaging foods and allowing for the safe and economical shipment and storage of food products around the world. Knudsen's work has contributed to the growth and profitability of Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP (Chevron Phillips Chemical) by providing technology for production of this critical co-monomer, which is in short supply on a global basis.
Knudsen's work has been honored by numerous publications and trade organizations for his outstanding contributions to industrial chemistry. R&D Magazine named Chevron Phillips Chemical's proprietary ethylene trimerization catalyst technology one of the most significant advancements of 2000, and in 2005, Chemical Engineering named the S1H process winner of its Kirkpatrick Award. Throughout his career, Knudsen has authored 17 articles in numerous chemistry journals and last year was awarded the 2006 Oklahoma Chemist of the Year Award in recognition of his lifetime achievements and contributions to the petrochemical industry.
A prolific inventor, Knudsen holds 25 U.S. Patents and two international Patents. In addition to his extensive improvement to the commercialization of S1H, Knudsen's work has led to novel commercial polyethylene catalysts.
Today, more than seven years into his retirement, Knudsen continues to play a vital role in ongoing technical guidance and development of the S1H process as an active senior consultant to Chevron Phillips Chemical.
About Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC
Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC produces chemicals that are essential to manufacturing over 70,000 consumer and industrial products. With assets totaling over $7 billion, Chevron Phillips Chemical is one of the world's top producers of olefins and polyolefins, as well as a leading supplier of aromatics, alpha olefins, styrenics, specialty chemicals, piping and proprietary plastics. For more information about Chevron Phillips Chemical, visit www.cpchem.com