New BASF-Dow HPPO Technology Drives Antwerp Project

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas). Following the launch of its long-term propylene oxide production in Antwerp, Dow (NYSE:DOW) (Midland, Michigan) and BASF (NYSE:BF) (Ludwigshafen, Germany) are considering the development of additional HPPO (hydrogen peroxide propylene oxide) projects in other regions, including Asia. BASF also plans to utilize the HPPO technology with a project at its Geismar, Louisiana site in the U.S.

In February 2006, Dow and BASF signed a manufacturing joint venture agreement to construct and operate a new propylene oxide manufacturing facility using the co-developed HPPO technology, to be used in a commercial-scale production unit for the first time. The partners have equal rights to the technology and will each receive half the capacity of the Antwerp, Belgium plant. Solvay (BE:SOLB) (Brussels, Belgium) and BASF established another joint venture at the Antwerp site to construct a 230,000-ton per annum (tpa) hydrogen peroxide plant to supply the complex, based on Solvay’s high productivity HP technology. A joint venture was then set up with the three companies to construct, and for Dow to finance, the hydrogen peroxide plant. The 300,000 tpa HPPO plant is scheduled to come on stream in 2008. It will be the largest single-train HPPO plant in the world.

HPPO offers a number of benefits when compared with conventional propylene oxide technologies. In terms of economics, the process requires 25% less capital to build and, as it produces only propylene oxide and water, it does not require additional infrastructure or markets for co-products. Its raw material integration is simpler, requiring only hydrogen peroxide and propylene. Wastewater is reduced by 70% to 80% compared to existing production technology and energy consumption is reduced 35%.

“HPPO is an exciting technology that supports Dow’s focus on sustainability through greater energy efficiency, reduced physical footprint and improved environmental performance, while at the same time providing attractive economics. Through innovation and our partnership with BASF, this HPPO technology expedites our drive for sustainability,” said Andrew Liveris of Dow.

Propylene oxide is a versatile chemical intermediate used in the production of raw materials for a wide range of industrial and commercial products, including polyurethanes, propylene glycols and glycol ethers. The HPPO technology offers growth opportunities allowing new propylene oxide plants to be located at a wider range of chemical facilities by avoiding the need for complex raw materials and the use of co-products at large integrated chemical complexes. The HP route could also bring environmental benefits to processes for the production of a number of chemicals.

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