Houston – LyondellBasell started up what it claims is the world's largest propylene oxide (PO) and tertiary butyl alcohol (TBA) unit, on 14 March, in the US state of Texas. The new facilities, on the US Gulf Coast, have a reported annual capacity of 470kt of PO and 1mt of TBA.
"The world-leading capacity of the new plant positions us to meet the growing demand for products essential for modern life," said Chris Cain, LyondellBasell senior vice president for global manufacturing. "Our company strives to be trailblazers in our industry and make positive contributions through our environmental and sustainability initiatives. This project advances our company's goals and creates value while meeting customer and society's needs, and it involved a collaborative effort between multiple project teams at Bayport, Channelview and around the world to deliver a project of this magnitude."
The PO/TBA project is sited at two locations – one for production, one for conversion –maximising production efficiency across the company’s different business units. The 140 acre (57 hectare) PO/TBA plant is at the company’s complex in Channelview, Texas. While the 34-acre (14 hectare) plant at LyondellBasell’s Bayport complex in Pasadena, Texas, will convert TBA to oxifuels.
The project is part of the company's multi-billion dollar series of investments along the U.S. Gulf Coast. Based on an analysis by the Greater Houston Partnership, the LyondellBasell PO/TBA project is estimated to generate more than $450 million in tax benefits for the county, school district, community college and other local taxing districts over a 10-year period.
LyondellBasell has been producing PO/TBA at Bayport since 1969. With more than 50 years’ experience, the company claims its new PO/TBA plant at the Channelview Complex is the most energy efficient PO/TBA facility in its history.
PO is a precursor chemical used in the production of polyether polyols for PU foam (and also PU fibres such as spandex, and CASE applications).
TBA is converted to produce two ether-based oxyfuels, methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) and ethyl tertiary butyl ether (ETBE). Both are high-octane fuel additives that help petrol burn more efficiently, reducing emissions from internal combustion engine vehicles.
