Bayer MaterialScience examines feasibility of 400,000-ton MDI plant in Europe
Total worldwide capacity would increase to 1,850,000 tons a year
Bayer MaterialScience is considering building a world-scale production facility for methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) in Europe. The plant would have an annual capacity of 400,000 tons and could be commissioned in 2012. A feasibility study would focus particularly on factors such as costs and infrastructure for a number of possible locations. A decision on the construction of the facility is due to be made next year. If the project were realized, the total worldwide MDI capacity of Bayer MaterialScience would increase to 1,850,000 tons a year. The new production plant at the integrated Shanghai site, with an annual capacity of 350,000 tons, is included in this amount. This plant is scheduled to be taken into operation next year. "With a new world-scale plant for MDI in Europe we would like to expand our leading position in the polyurethane industry", explained Patrick Thomas, Chairman of the Board of Management of Bayer MaterialScience.
It is intended that the new world-scale facility should incorporate, for the first time, a new, highly energy-efficient technology for the final stage in the reaction, that of phosgenation. Thanks to this process innovation the energy consumption of the plant can be decreased considerably by reducing the solvent cycles. Consequently, the emissions per unit of manufacturing will also be significantly reduced. Furthermore, the specific investment costs are expected to be clearly lower than for a conventional plant of the same size.
The new facility is intended to form part of a complete, newly designed MDI train that will also include production plants for the precursors nitrobenzene, aniline and diphenylmethane diamine (MDA). The train would be the largest and most modern integrated MDI production facility in Europe.
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