Shell raises ethylene oxide/ethylene glycol production

By Patrick Raleigh, UT On-line/news editorLondon-Shell Chemical Co. has officially inaugurated a third ethylene oxide (EO) reactor along with the expansion of an ethylene glycol plant at the Shell Nederland Chemie BV site at Moerdijk, the Netherlands. The projects have raised the site's annual production capacity of ethylene oxide and monoethylene glycol has increased to 305 and 155 kilotonnes, respectively. The extra capacity will be used to meet the growing demand in the European market, said Shell. These products are intermediates for the manufacture of PET (polyethylene terephthalate), antifreeze, detergents and surfactants. EO is also an intermediate in the manufacture of flexible and rigid polyurethane foams, brake fluids and water-soluble solvents. "