BASF, Dow, Solvay partnership breaks new ground with innovative HPPO technology in Antwerp
Environmentally friendly plant reduces waste water and energy usage
BASF Aktiengesellschaft (BASF) and The Dow Chemical Company (Dow) launched a long-term venture to produce propylene oxide (PO) at the world's first commercial-scale hydrogen peroxide propylene oxide (HPPO) plant at BASF's site in Antwerp, Belgium. This plant uses a new technology developed jointly by BASF and Dow. PO is a core ingredient for the polyurethane industry. Solvay S.A. (Solvay) will be a key supplier to the new facility.
According to BASF, the process technology offers a number of benefits over conventional routes to PO, including better economics, environmental improvements and flexibility for locating new plants. The HPPO plant will be fed with hydrogen peroxide (HP) from a second new plant at the Antwerp site. The HP plant will have a capacity of 230,000 metric tons per year and will be constructed by Solvay, BASF and Dow. The 300,000 metric tons per year HPPO plant, which is being built jointly by BASF and Dow, is scheduled to start up in early 2008.
Dow and BASF are considering the development of additional HPPO projects in other regions, including Asia. BASF also plans to utilize the HPPO technology with a project at its Geismar, Louisiana, site in the United States.
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