evonik-hppo

Evonik Industries AG and the Indian chemical company Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Limited (GACL) are driving forward plans for a new multi-million-euro project. At its heart is the construction of a new hydrogen peroxide production plant by Evonik and a propylene oxide facility by GACL. The aim is to produce propylene oxide using the environment-friendly HPPO (hydrogen peroxide to propylene oxide) process developed jointly by Evonik and Uhde GmbH. Representatives of Evonik and GACL have now signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the proposed project in Dahej in the state of Gujurat (India). The project is contingent upon the approval of the executive board and supervisory board of Evonik Industries AG.

"India is one of the world’s most important growth markets and we want to increase our presence there. The government of Gujarat has created the right conditions in the chemical industry to welcome foreign investors. The proposed joint project with GACL could become a real landmark in Evonik's presence in India," stressed Dr. Thomas Haeberle of the board of management of Evonik Degussa GmbH (Hanau-Wolfgang, Germany).

The MoU is expected to mark the start of a close and lasting collaboration between Evonik and GACL, which intends to acquire a license from Evonik and Uhde to use the HPPO process to produce propylene oxide. Evonik will produce and supply the hydrogen peroxide required for the planned new propylene plant at an over-the-fence facility. Experts are predicting a sharp rise in global demand for propylene oxide in the coming years.

The model for this alliance in India is the world’s first industrial-scale HPPO production facility, which has capacity 100,000 metric tons (m.t.) per year. This plant was started up in 2008 by the Korean company SKC in Ulsan (Korea) and has operated continuously at maximum capacity since it came into service. (now 280,000t)

"The new project in India is further evidence that we are moving in the right direction with our innovative, environment-friendly HPPO technology. Our strategic objective is to gain access to new markets for hydrogen peroxide in addition to the conventional applications,” according to Haeberle.

Traditionally, hydrogen peroxide has been supplied to the paper and pulp industry. Evonik is the world’s second-largest producer of this environment-friendly bleaching and oxidation agent, with capacity of around 600,000 m.t./yr at production facilities in Europe, North America, South America, New Zealand, Asia, South Africa and Indonesia. The HPPO process developed with Uhde is an innovative route for the production of propylene oxide from hydrogen peroxide.

This route has clear advantages compared with the conventional production process for propylene oxide. Investment in the HPPO process is far lower, making it more economical. Moreover, the process is extremely environment-friendly: High yields are achieved and there are no significant amounts of by-products apart from water. "That decreases the environmental impact and at the same time ensures economically sustainable production. In other words, the process is an example of practical resource efficiency," explains Van den Bergh, who heads Evonik’s Industrial Chemicals Business Unit. It therefore supports GACL’s aim of promoting green technology.

Evonik is the only single-source supplier of HPPO process technology, the necessary catalyst and the starting product, hydrogen peroxide. Propylene oxide produced by this process is used in the manufacture of polyurethane foams, for example, for energy-saving insulation of refrigerators and buildings. In the automotive sector, foams are used in seat cushioning, dashboards and bumpers that reduce vehicle weight and thus cut fuel consumption.

Evonik and Uhde have jointly developed a co-product free process for the production of PO via HP.

Successful Commissioning of First Ever HPPO Plant under License from Evonik and Uhde at SKC, Korea

The Korean company SKC of Seoul has commissioned in Ulsan the world's first ever commercial-scale plant for production of propylene oxide by the innovative HPPO process. The plant has an annual capacity of 100,000 metric tons. Evonik Industries, Essen, and Uhde, Dortmund, who jointly developed the HPPO process, have licensed it to SKC. Using a catalyst developed by Evonik, the process produces propylene oxide from propylene and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The joint venture Evonik Headwaters supplies the H2O2 in Ulsan directly “over the fence” to the HPPO plant.

The commissioning brings Evonik a big step closer to its strategic goal of providing hydrogen peroxide in large quantities for chemical processes such as the HPPO process. Dr. Klaus Engel, Member of the Executive Board of Evonik responsible for the Chemical Business Area, says: “By targeted development of new technologies in collaboration with proven and expert partners, we are opening up an attractive market for hydrogen peroxide.” Engel and Helmut Knauthe, Member of the Uhde Executive Board, are agreed that the production facility in Korea is now a reference point for the construction of further plants using the HPPO process. With an annual capacity exceeding 600,000 metric tons, Evonik is the world's second largest producer of hydrogen peroxide, which has so far been used mainly in paper and pulp bleaching.

SKC supplies propylene oxide produced by the innovative HPPO process to the markets of Korea and its neighboring countries. Propylene oxide is a chemical with above-average sales growth, which is used mainly for production of polyurethane precursors. Polyurethanes are processed into, for example, cushioning for car seats and upholstered furniture.

The advantages of the HPPO process lie in a significantly lower investment volume, resulting in higher profitability than with the conventional production process for propylene oxide. Moreover, the HPPO process is extremely environment-friendly: The yield is high and, apart from water, no by-products are formed in any appreciable quantity. “With environmental regulations becoming increasingly stringent, the novel and by-product free HPPO process is the process of the future,” says Helmut Knauthe.

In 2001, Evonik and Uhde announced an exclusive partnership for the development of the new process.
Evonik investigated the process and developed a catalyst optimised for the particular purpose. while Uhde contributed its expertise in process engineering and the design and construction of chemical nad other industrial plants.
pilot plant at Evonik's site in Hanau-wolfgang, Germany

Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Limited (GACL) was incorporated on 29th March, 1973 in the State of Gujarat by Gujarat Industrial Investment Corporation Limited (GIIC), a wholly owned company of Govt. of Gujarat, as a Core Promoter.

GACL has two units located at Vadodara and Dahej , both in the State of Gujarat. It has integrated manufacturing facilities for Caustic Soda, Chlorine, Hydrogen Gas, Hydrochloric Acid, Chloromethanes, Hydrogen Peroxide, Phosphoric Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Potassium Carbonate, Sodium Cyanide, Sodium Ferrocyanide. The Dahej unit also has 90 MW Captive Power Plant (CPP) for regular and economical power supply.

The Company commenced its operations in 1976 with 37,425 MTPA Caustic Soda Plant based on the then, state-of-the-art Mercury Cell process at its Plant which is situated 16 km North of Vadodara near Village Ranoli on the main Railway track route between Ahmedabad and Mumbai.

Right from the inception, GACL has been following the strategy of continuous capacity expansion in core areas. The first stage expansion of the Caustic Soda Plant raising the capacity to 70,425 MTPA was undertaken in October, 1981 followed by a diversification programme to produce 2000 MTPA of Sodium Cyanide in December, 1982.

In 1984, the second stage expansion to increase the capacity of Caustic Soda Plant to 103,425 MTPA was undertaken. Simultaneously, the Company undertook the diversification project for manufacture of 10,560 MTPA of Chloromethanes using Chlorine, a co-product of the Company and in 1991, the capacity of Chloromethanes production was doubled.

As power is the major input for production of Caustic Soda and constitutes about 65% - 70% of the cost of production, the Company alongwith other Corporations like M/s. GSFC, Petrofils Co-operative Ltd. and Gujarat Electricity Board promoted a gas based power unit in Vadodara under the name of Gujarat Industrial Power Company Ltd. (GIPCL) during the year 1985. As a promoter of GIPCL, the Company gets low cost power, as the plant is gas based and is depreciated.

Since production of Caustic Soda is highly power intensive, in order to reduce power cost and to eliminate mercury pollution, the Company during the year 1989 converted one of its Cell Houses producing Caustic Soda from Mercury Cell Technology to environment friendly Membrane Cell Technology, thereby eliminating the use of mercury. The Capacity of Caustic Soda was also increased to 132000 MTA.

The conversion of second Mercury Cell to Membrane Cell was carried out during March, 1994, thereby eliminating the total use of mercury from the Complex for production of Caustic Soda and increasing the capacity of plant along with this conversion to 170000 MTA including Potassium Hydroxide facility.

As part of this Membrane Cell Conversion Project, a new facility for manufacture of 16500 MTA of Potassium Hydroxide Lye based on Membrane Cell was also set up. The Company has further set up facility for converting part of this Caustic Potash Lye into Potassium Carbonate with a capacity of 13200 MTA.

In order to add further value to its products, the company had set up manufacturing facility for production of 11000 MTA Hydrogen Peroxide (100%) at Vadodara Complex during the year 1996 to utilize Hydrogen gas, which is a co-product from Caustic Soda Process.
In 1995, as a part of diversification programme and to meet the growing demand of its products in the State of Gujarat and nearby areas, the Company had set up a plant for manufacture of Technical Grade Phosphoric Acid with capacity of 26400 MTA (85% Phosphoric Acid) at a new location at Dahej, District Bharuch. The Company also set up Membrane Cell based grass root Caustic-Chlorine Unit with a capacity of 100000 MTA at Dahej. Alongwith this, a captive 90 MW co-generation Power Plant was set up so as to ensure uninterrupted and low cost power for its captive operations.

Evonik Industries to Increase Global Methyl Methacrylate Production Capabilities

Evonik Industries, one of the leading suppliers of methacrylate chemistry, is increasing the production capabilities of its Methyl Methacrylate plants throughout the world, to meet the rising demand.

Evonik will increase their production capabilities of Methyl Methacrylate through debottlenecking and plant expansion projects in their existing plants in Europe (Worms and Wesseling in Germany), Asia (Shanghai in China), and the United States (Fortier) in 2011 and 2012.
Upon completion of the projects Evonik industries will be able to produce approximately 50,000 additional metric tons of Methyl Methacrylate. Thomas Müller, Senior Vice President & General Manager Acrylic Monomers, said of the previously announced expansion of the Methyl Methacrylat capacity: "We are reacting timely to support the growth of our customers."

Methyl Methacrylate is primarily used for Polymethylmethacrylate resins and surface coatings.

Evonik Industries produces and markets Methyl Methacrylate, Methacrylic Acid, n- and i-Butyl Methacrylate, Hydroxy Methacrylates, and Special Methacrylic Monomers under the trademark VISIOMER®.

Evonik Industries, Tasnee and Sahara sign joint venture agreement to produce superabsorbents in Jubail, Saudi Arabia

• Scheduled capacity of 80,000 metric tons p.a.
• Start-up planned for late 2013
• Efficient sourcing of raw materials assured
• Patrik Wohlhauser, member of the Evonik Executive Board:“This is an important step for Evonik in the Middle East growth market.”

Evonik Industries and Saudi Acrylic Acid Company (SAAC) have established a joint venture called Saudi Acrylic Polymers Company (SAPCo) for the production of superabsorbents.
SAAC is a joint venture of the Saudi companies National Industrialization Company (Tasnee) and Sahara Petrochemicals. The production facility with an annual capacity of 80,000 metric tons is scheduled to begin production in late 2013. The total investment will be in the triple-digit million Euro range.
The SAPCo superabsorbent production is part of a new acrylic acid and derivative complex on the Tasnee premises of the Al Jubail chemical park in Saudi Arabia and will benefit from favorably priced propylene from the adjacent cracking facility operated jointly by Tasnee, Sahara and Lyondell Basell. The EPC-contract will be assigned to Fluor.
Patrik Wohlhauser, the Evonik Executive Board member responsible for the Consumer, Health & Nutrition reporting segment, and Dr. Moayyed I. Al-Qurtas, Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board and CEO of Tasnee, signed the corresponding joint venture agreement in Riyadh today. “This is an important step for our Group in the Middle East growth market and will significantly boost our leading position for superabsorbents," said Wohlhauser. Evonik is a leading global producer of superabsorbents, a key basic material for the manufacture of diapers and feminine hygiene products.
The joint venture will be equipped with state-of-the-art Evonik superabsorbent technology and will benefit from the advantageous local source materials supply. The acrylic acid for the production of superabsorbents will come from an adjoining SAMCO facility.
SAMCO is a joint venture of SAAC and Dow Chemicals.
“This is the first superabsorbent production plant in the region. We will provide our customers with our usual high-quality, up-to-date technology to serve the growing market of the Middle East.
Together with our Saudi partners, we are closing the supply chain from oil to diaper production in Saudi Arabia,” noted Claus Rettig, the Head of the Evonik Consumer Specialties Business Unit.

Evonik plans further capacity expansion for polyamide 12 in Germany and Asia

Leading market position in the specialty polymer polyamide 12 to be consolidated
Competitive integrated technology platform
New applications in oil and gas production and gas distribution

Evonik Industries plans to expand capacities for the specialty polymer polyamide 12. First, the Group is significantly expanding its existing plant in Marl; second, the Executive Board has now approved preliminary and basic planning for a large new polyamide 12 production facility in Asia. The 5,000-metric-ton capacity expansion in Marl is expected to start operating in 2012. The Asian facility, which will provide a very significant expansion of 20,000 metric tons, is scheduled for completion within three years; it now awaits the approval of the company’s different bodies.

Dahai Yu, a member of Evonik's Executive Board with responsibility for the Specialty Materials segment, said: "With the significant capacity expansion proposed, we plan to consolidate our leading position in polyamide 12 for the long term. We’re relying here on growth in the established markets as well as in emerging regions like Asia." Polyamide 12 is used in innovative and high-quality products in the automotive sector and in electricals and electronics, household gadgets, and sports equipment as well as in industry. And, in conjunction with customers, Evonik has developed new applications in oil and gas production and gas distribution.

"As the sole integrated producer of polyamide 12, Evonik has at its disposal an outstanding and competitive technology platform," added Gregor Hetzke, Head of the Performance Polymers Business Unit. Evonik produces polyamide 12 starting from butadiene; this is converted through various intermediate steps to the monomer laurolactam, which polymerizes to polyamide 12.

This is then processed further by the company into what are known as compounds, in which additives are mixed into the base polymer for the various specialty applications. Evonik markets polyamide 12 as the structural material VESTAMID® and the coating powder VESTOSINT®.

Evonik plans new silica plant in Brazil

Evonik Industries has started basic engineering for a production plant for precipitated silica in Brazil. Subject to the approval of the responsible bodies, Evonik aims to complete the plant in the year 2015 to market precipitated silica in the South America region from local production. The planned facility in Americana, with an investment level in the middle double-digit million-euro range, would be Evonik’s first silica production in South America. The silica marketed under the ULTRASIL® brand name is particularly used in energy-saving tires with low rolling resistance while the silica sold as SIPERNAT® is applied in the feed and food industry as well as the paints and coatings industry.

In South America, and in Brazil in particular, demand for precipitated silica is rising strongly. Two reasons for this are the significant growth of the local automotive industry, on the one hand, and a rising demand in the area of life-science and in agriculture, on the other, for example as a dosing aid for animal feed. "In our expansion course, we aim to accompany the growth of our global key customers, particularly in the tire industry," says Dr. Thomas Haeberle, member of the Evonik Executive Board and responsible for the company’s Resource Efficiency Segment. Evonik expects additional demand due to a planned labeling obligation for fuel-saving tires in Brazil.

According to expert estimates, the market for tires with low rolling resistance will grow globally by a good 18 percent annually in the next five years. Evonik therefore wants to significantly expand its global silica capacities: By 2014 alone, capacities are planned to increase by around 30 percent compared to 2010.
In line with this, at the end of 2012, the specialty chemicals company announced plans to expand its annual capacity for precipitated silica at the US-American Chester site by around 20,000 metric tons. The plant in the U.S., with an investment in the lower double-digit million-euro range, is planned to come on stream in 2014. The expansion planned in North and South America follows expansion projects in Asia and Europe.

The use of silicas in combination with silanes allows for the production of tires with a significantly reduced rolling resistance that save up to eight percent of fuel (compared to conventional passenger car tires). Dr. Johannes Ohmer, Head of Evonik’s Inorganic Materials Business Unit, explains: "We’re the only provider offering both components and are therefore a competent partner for high-performance tire compounds for our customers from the tire and rubber industry."

Evonik is one of the leading manufacturers of silica. Apart from precipitated silica, the Group also produces AEROSIL® fumed silica and silica-based matting agents under the ACEMATT® brand. They are not only used in tires with low rolling resistance but also in the paints and coatings industry, as flow additives and carriers in food, cosmetics and drug production, or in manufacturing silicon applications, among others. Overall, Evonik has a global capacity of around 500,000 metric tons per annum for precipitated and fumed silica as well as matting agents.

Evonik strengthens leading position in the attractive growth market for specialty & coating additives
Product and customer portfolios are highly complementary
Acquisition secures leading position in North America for Evonik and strengthens Innovation
Synergies of 80 million US dollars per year expected

Evonik Industries AG is acquiring the Specialty & Coating Additives business (Performance Materials Division) of the US company Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. for 3.8 billion US dollars (approx. €3.5 billion), strengthening its leading position on the high-margin specialty & coating additives market. The transaction is intended to be completed by the end of the year. It is expected that the acquisition will be EPS accretive for Evonik in the 2017 business year.

Klaus Engel, CEO of Evonik Industries AG, said: "Evonik is already one of the leading producers of specialty & coating additives. Air Products’ Specialty & Coating Additives business perfectly complements this fast-growing segment. With this acquisition we are expanding our portfolio with precisely the right markets, products and innovations and continuing to invest in our growth and profitability."

　

Evonik is investing a double-digit million euro amount in the construction of a new multi-purpose facility at its Geesthacht location in Northern Germany, 30 kilometers outside the city of Hamburg.

The additional capacities created will be for the production of a range of silicones and silane-terminated polymers, which Evonik sells under the brand names Polymer VS and Polymer ST. The products are used in many applications including in parquet adhesives, in adhesives for wound care or encapsulation applications in electronics.

"The planned investment at the Geesthacht site has an important strategic significance by helping us to further strengthen our focus on innovative specialty chemical products," says Dietmar Schaefer, head of the Interface & Performance Business Line of Evonik.

The new plant is scheduled to go into operation at the end of 2019. Besides the increased production capacity, a facility for filling tank trucks is also being built at the site. “This will simplify the delivery and storage process for our customers and in doing so increases efficiency,” says Dr. Sabine Giessler-Blank, head of the Polymer & Construction Specialties Product Line. “The additional production capacity will also create room for us to develop new products, enabling us to increase the performance of our customers’ products and to react to future demands in the adhesives and sealants market.”

The Geesthacht site, with about 100 employees, will focus on two areas: silicone and nanotechnology. The addition- and condensation-curing silicones as well as the silane-terminated polymers are used as binders in adhesives and sealants, electronics and medical applications. Among other things, our silica-based nanomaterials serve as property-enhancing additives in fiber composites, which are used successfully in the automotive and aerospace industry.

Evonik and SKC found joint venture for the production of hydrogen peroxide in Korea

May 6, 2016

Evonik acquires Specialty & Coating Additives business of Air Products