SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549


                                   FORM 8-K


                                CURRENT REPORT
                      PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF
                      THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported) July 16, 1997 (July 13, 1997)


                     E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
            (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)


            Delaware                   1-815              51-0014090
    (State or Other Jurisdiction     (Commission       (I.R.S Employer
         of Incorporation)           File Number)     Identification No.)


                              1007 Market Street
                          Wilmington, Delaware  19898
                   (Address of principal executive offices)


      Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (302) 774-1000



                                                                             











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Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits
         ---------------------------------

     In connection with Debt and/or Equity Securities that may be offered 
on a delayed or continuous basis under Registration Statements on Form S-3 
(No. 33-53327, No. 33-61339 and No. 33-60069), we hereby file the following 
press release.


    Exhibit
    Number                      Description of Exhibit
    -------        -------------------------------------------------

      99           Copy of the Registrant's Press Release dated
                   July 13, 1997, announcing agreement to acquire 
                   ICI's white pigment business outside North 
                   America, its worldwide polyester films, resins 
                   and intermediates businesses and all related 
                   technologies.












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                                  SIGNATURE



          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.





                                 E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
                                             (Registrant)




                                          /s/D. B. Smith
                                 ------------------------------------
                                             D. B. Smith
                                         Assistant Controller




July 16, 1997









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                                 EXHIBIT INDEX



Exhibit
Number                             Description of Exhibits
- -------        --------------------------------------------------------------

  99           Copy of the Registrant's Press Release dated July 13, 1997,
               announcing agreement to acquire ICI's white pigment business 
               outside North America, its worldwide polyester films, resins 
               and intermediates businesses and all related technologies.














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                                                     EXHIBIT 99





                                        Contact:  Susan Gaffney
                                                  (302) 774-2698



        Wilmington, Del., July 13 -- DuPont today announced that 
it has agreed to acquire ICI's white pigment business outside 
North America, its worldwide polyester films, resins and inter- 
mediates businesses and all related technologies.  The acquisi- 
tion will accelerate DuPont's global growth by strengthening
its position as the world leader in white pigment and moving 
DuPont's polyester business from a strong regional to an 
integrated global position.
        The businesses, which have the capacity to achieve sales 
of about $3.5 billion annually over the next two to three years, 
are:
     o  The terephthalic acid, or TPA, polyester intermediates 
        business worldwide;

     o  The polyester film business worldwide; and

     o  The polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, polyester resin 
        business worldlwide;

     o  The Tioxide white pigment subsidiary business in Europe, 
        Asia and Africa.  North American business and assets are 
        excluded.

        "This acquisition is a significant step in our strategy 
to continually increase shareholder value through profitable, 
global growth of our core businesses," said John A. Krol, DuPont 
President & CEO.


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        DuPont will pay about $3 billion to acquire these 
businesses.  The total transaction should be completed by the 
end of the first quarter 1998, subject to regulatory approvals.  
DuPont intends to pay for this acquisition out of cash flow from 
operations and short-term borrowings.
        Krol said the acquired businesses are expected to make a 
significant contribution to earnings and cash flow as cost 
reductions are implemented, world demand improves and new DuPont 
technologies are commercialized.  Excluding restructuring 
charges, the acquisition will be mildly dilutive in 1998 and 
accretive thereafter.
        Worldwide, polyester is a $30 billion industry that is 
growing about 7% a year, making it one of the two fastest grow- 
ing of the major polymer materials.  The acquisition will give 
DuPont world-class terephthalic acid intermediate technology, 
which completes DuPont's portfolio of world-leading polyester 
technologies, thereby significantly strengthening DuPont's 
fibers, films, resins and intermediates positions.
        In the last five years, DuPont has been awarded more 
than 150 patents as it developed a comprehensive package of 
polyester technologies.  When commercialized over the next two 
to five years, these new technologies will dramatically improve 
every aspect of polyester manufacture, from monomer production 
to polymerization, high-speed spinning and film forming.




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        "The addition of ICI's world-class TPA technology, 
coupled with our own breakthrough polyester technology and 
continuing rapid growth in polyester demand, should make DuPont 
the most comprehensive and competitive polyester producer in the 
world." Krol said.  "The key is to assemble, and then sustain, 
significant technology advantage at each step of the polyester 
chain."
        The acquisition of Tioxide white pigment facilities will 
give DuPont a long-sought manufacturing presence in Europe, 
additional manufacturing capabilities in Asia, which is targeted 
for growth, and an extension of the company's product line to 
better serve DuPont's worldwide customer base.  White pigment is 
used principally to provide color, enhance brightness and 
improve opacity in the paints, plastics and paper industries.
        DuPont is expected to acquire white pigment facilities 
in France, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, South Africa and 
Malaysia; polyester film facilities in the United States, 
The Netherlands, United Kingdom and Japan; PET resin facilities 
in the United States and United Kingdom; and a TPA facility in 
the United Kingdom and interests in facilities in Taiwan and 
Pakistan.  About 6400 ICI employees would transfer to DuPont.
        DuPont has been advised by BT Wolfensohn.






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        DuPont is a research and technology-based global 
chemical and energy company offering high-performance products 
based on chemicals, polymers, fibers, and petroleum.  Committed 
to better things for better living, DuPont serves worldwide 
markets in the aerospace, apparel, automotive, agriculture, 
construction, packaging, printing, refining and transportation 
markets.


7/13/97  













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