The Dow Chemical Company and Solvay S.A. have agreed to create a joint venture for the construction of a hydrogen peroxide (HP) plant in Thailand. Scheduled to be operational in 2010, the new HP plant will serve as a raw material source for the manufacture of propylene oxide (PO). Dow chose Thailand reportedly for its access to the Asia-Pacific region and its business opportunities. The HP plant reportedly will be the largest in the world, with a capacity of over 330 kilotons per annum (KTA) of hydrogen peroxide at 100% concentration.
The hydrogen peroxide supplying the process is based on Solvay’s high-yield hydrogen peroxide technology. In addition, Dow and BASF AG are advancing negotiations for the construction of a world-scale, 390 KTA propylene oxide (PO) manufacturing facility in Map Ta Phut,Thailand. The new plant would use the innovative hydrogen peroxide to propylene oxide (HPPO) technology jointly developed by Dow and BASF.
“This project would expand our successful cooperation with Dow and Solvay to deploy this innovative HPPO technology in Asia,” said Jacques Delmoitiez, president of BASF’s Polyurethanes division in a recent press release.
The first, a 300 KTA Dow and BASF HPPO plant, also supplied by an HP plant based on Solvay’s high yield technology, is currently under construction in Antwerp, Belgium, and is scheduled for start-up in early 2008. Propylene oxide is used to produce propylene glycol, polyurethanes and glycol ethers.
HPPO technology is said to offer environmental benefits such as reduced wastewater and increased energy efficiency. The latest developments of Solvays high yield technology will be implemented at the plant.
"Solvay has been active in the Asian hydrogen peroxide market since 1988 through its Thai affiliate, Peroxythai, a supplier of peroxygen chemicals in Asia with the majority of its sales outside Thailand. A significant share of the capacity of the new plant will be available to support further development of Solvay’s hydrogen peroxide business within this fast growing region,” added Eric Mignonat, general manager for hydrogen peroxide at Solvay.
