Page 24 - Plastics News July 2018

CompAny news

Covestro AG to build its own ExxonMobil begins Butyl and

chlorine production plant in Spain Resins Production

ovestro AG is planning to build its own chlorine xxonMobil has started production of hydrogenated
Cproduction plant in Tarragona (Spain) and will use Ehydrocarbon resin and halobutyl rubber at its
a particularly sustainable process: oxygen-depolarized integrated manufacturing complex in Singapore,
cathode (ODC) technology, that consumes around a quarter the company’s largest integrated refining and
less energy than the conventional method. At its location in petrochemical complex in the world. "These new
Spain, the company is building the first industrial-scale plant plants enhance the competitiveness and strategic
based solely on this state-of-the-art technology. Covestro is importance of ExxonMobil’s integrated manufacturing
currently investing facility in Singapore, and are part of the company’s
around €200 million long-term plan for advantaged investments around the
at Tarragona to world,” said John Verity, president of the ExxonMobil
increase the site’s Chemical Company. “We remain committed to safe
competitiveness. and environmentally-responsible operations as we
The new chlorine manufacture products that support better living
production plant is standards and economic progress for a fast-growing
a key component
of that. About one
third of the production costs for chlorine are usually
spent on energy. Thus, the selected technology makes
an important economic contribution. “Sustainability
and energy efficiency played a vital role in choosing the
process,” stresses Chief Technology Officer Dr. Klaus
Schäfer.

“This is a special success story for us since the development
of this technology began at our company over two decades
ago.” Covestro and Thyssenkrupp Uhde Chlorine Engineers middle class population in Asia Pacific.” ExxonMobil’s
have developed an innovative technology that consumes new EscorezTM hydrogenated hydrocarbon resins plant
will be the world’s largest with a capacity of 90,000
around 25% less energy than conventional electrolysis tonnes per year, and will meet long-term demand
through the use of an oxygen-depolarized cathode. ODC growth for hot-melt adhesives used in packaging
technology is based on the conventional membrane or baby diapers. The new 140,000-tonnes-per-year
process, in which chlorine, caustic soda and hydrogen are butyl plant will produce premium halobutyl rubber
usually produced from rock salt and water. The crucial used by manufacturers for tires that better maintain
difference: The hydrogen-generating electrode normally inflation to improve fuel economy.Keeping tires
used is replaced by an oxygen-depolarized cathode. properly inflated can help save about a billion gallons
Only chlorine and caustic soda are produced. As a result, (or 38 billion liters) of fuel and result in an estimated
a voltage of just around two instead of three volts is emissions reduction of eight million tonnes of carbon
required. Construction of the new plant in Tarragona is dioxide per year, equivalent to the emissions of about
scheduled to begin in the first half of 2019. Chlorine is 2.5 million cars worldwide.Construction of the multi-
mainly needed at Tarragona to make MDI. MDI is a precursor billion dollar expansion project was completed safely
for rigid foam, which is an excellent insulation material and on schedule. The project employed more than
and is used, for example, in buildings and refrigerators 5,500 contract workers at the peak of construction.
to reduce their power consumption. Compared with the The plants add 140 jobs to ExxonMobil’s existing
conventional method, it cuts CO2 emissions by around workforce of more than 2,500 at its Singapore
22,000 metric tons per year – roughly the amount produced manufacturing complex. ExxonMobil has more than
by 15,000 cars a year. 4,000 employees in Singapore.

Plastics News July 2018 24