Lonza Polymer Intermediates with new highly efficient catalyst generation to improve production performance for Maleic Anhydride
Lonza has announced the development of a new generation of fluid bed catalysts at its R&D facility in Scanzoroscate, Italy, that is applied in its proprietary maleic anhydride production process. The newly developed catalyst generation will further strengthen Lonza's competitiveness as a leading producer of Maleic Anhydride and catalysts. It is another important step towards operational improvements to keep cost leadership.
The new catalyst generation not only allows for a better performance in terms of conversion and selectivity it also becomes active at a lower temperature than the catalyst generation applied so far.
Only after one month of application in the large-scale plant the positive results obtained in the pilot plant could be replicated. The major benefits of the newly developed catalyst generation are reflected in a reduced raw material consumption, in a production volume increase of 10'000 t/p.a., boosting the plant capacity from the previous 50'000 t/p.a. to 60'000 t/p.a. As it is activated at a lower temperature the new catalysts life-cycle is expected to increase by a year.
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