By Cameron Chai
The first plants of the expanded BASF-YPC, a 50-50 joint venture (JV)
between BASF and Sinopec, in Nanjing, China have started operation. The newly
built non-ionic surfactants plant and butadiene extraction plant are now
operational.
The $1.4 billion expansion project was started in September 2009. The project
comprises construction of 10 new facilities, extension of three existing plants
and expansion of the existing steam cracker to increase the capacity from
600,000 t to 740,000 t of ethylene per year. The products resulting from the
expansion will serve diverse industries, including chemical manufacturing,
automotive, pharmaceutical, electronics, construction and agriculture. The
expansion positions BASF-YPC as a highly-integrated, extremely energy-efficient
production complex. The remaining facilities of BASF-YPC expansion are
anticipated to come online by the end of 2011.
The butadiene extraction facility extracts butadiene from the C4 cracker
stream. Butadiene is a key intermediate used as a monomer to produce
thermo¬plastics and elastomers like polyamide, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene
copolymer and synthetic rubbers. As a division of an integrated ethylene oxide
derivatives complex, the new non-ionic surfactants plant will serve industries
ranging from home and personal care to construction. Non-ionic surfactants can
be utilized for cleaners and detergents and also in various formulation
technologies. A superabsorbent polymers (SAP) facility will also be established
as a part of the continuing expansion project.
Source: http://www.basf.com/