DATE : 2017-01-09
Arkema is investing $90m to replace two reactors at its acrylic acid plant in Clear Lake, Texas, with start-up targeted for mid-2019, ICIS learned on Monday.
The France-based producer of acrylic monomers announced its plans to replace two 45,000-tonne/year acrylic acid reactors at the site with a single 90,000-tonne/year reactor.
The existing reactors are at the end of their life cycle, the company said. The new one will employ the latest technology.
Arkema’s current nameplate acrylic acid production at Clear Lake is about 270,000 tonnes/year, and the project is not expected to change that number.
Arkema also operates American Acryl near in Bayport, Texas, as a 50/50 joint venture with Nippon Shokubai subsidiary NA industries. That plant has a nameplate acrylic acid capacity of 120,000 tonnes/year.
In the meantime, Arkema will continue to meet customer demand from its European and Asian plants, as well as its American plants, which previously completed a modernisation programme between 2012 and 2014.
Acrylates are commonly used to make products including paint and coatings, plastics and construction and pressure-sensitive adhesives.
Source Icis News