Advanced Degussa-Uhde Technology Heading for Possible Commercialization for the First Time

22-Aug-2003

Sasol Ltd, Johannesburg, South Africa, is currently investigating the feasibility of producing propylene-oxide/order_t/'>propylene oxide in South Africa, using a new process developed by Degussa AG, Düsseldorf and Uhde GmbH, Dortmund. Degussa and Uhde have agreed to license the technology to Sasol. Following a comprehensive pre-feasibility study by all three companies, basic engineering is about to commence to determine whether to further proceed with the project. Robert Morlino, head of the Bleaching and water Chemicals Business Unit, says: "The construction of a propylene oxide plant utilizing this innovative, economical and environmentally sound process will assure that Degussa and Uhde are the leading companies in the sector." The proposed plant in South Africa with an annual capacity of about 60,000 metric tons per year would serve as a reference for the technology to be offered for even larger plants. The process, different from the processes currently used, does not generate any so called co-products. Developed by Degussa and Uhde, the process yields propylene oxide (PO) from propylene and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), using a special catalyst. The advantages of the new process are already becoming apparent. Operation will be more cost-effective compared to the production processes currently used for propylene oxide, particularly because of a significantly lower capital investment. Moreover, the new process is extemely environmentally sound: it generates very high yields, so that aside from water, there is no generation of by-products in significant quantities. "For us, the innovative and co-product free PO/H2O2 process is the process of the future," says Klaus Schneiders, member of Uhde's Executive Board. "We're quite sure it will become the standard for construction of new propylene oxide plants world-wide."

https://www.chemeurope.com/en/news/27884/advanced-degussa-uhde-technology-heading-for-possible-commercialization-for-the-first-time.html