Feb 20 2003
Sasol have just commissioned their new R1.16billion butanol plant in Sasolburg, South Africa.
Using technology licensed from Japan’s Mitsubishi Chemical Corp, the plant has an capacity to produce 150,000 tons of butanol and a further 14,500 tons of iso-butanol a year.
The project was originally approved in February 2000, with construction commencing in February 2002. Commissioning began on December 1, 2002, and they expect to be exporting product in March or this year.
The successful commissioning of this plant marks the completion of another step in Sasol’s strategy to become a leader in the field of acrylic acid and acrylates, as much of the butanol output will be channelled into a new acrylic acid plant due to be commissioned in early 2004.
Butanol is used in the production of plasticisers, acetates, glycol ethers and acrylates. It is also used as a solvent in lacquers, lacquer thinners, liquid printing inks, disinfectants and fungicides.
For more information on plasticisers, click here.