INDUSTRY
High pressure air from these compressors is mixed with ethylene and passed over catalyst in direct oxidation process at Orange
Ethylene oxide is absorbed and hydrated to ethylene glycol in these scrubbers. Ethylene glycol is recovered by fractionation
Allied Dedicates Texas Plant Nitrogen Division now producing ethylene oxideglycols — ethanolamine addition planned on Gulf Coast ORANGE, TEX.-Allied's Nitrogen Division became latest petrochemicals newcomer with dedication of its n e w $5 million ethylene oxide-glycol plant here May 20. Plant operations started u p recently. Ethylene oxide unit w e n t on stream in February followed by first glycol production last month. Ceremonies marked completion of first phase of the division's Texas development with disclosure of expansion plans. H u g o Riemer, Nitrogen Division president, said that plans are in t h e engineering stage for additional facilities at the 650-acre site. Construction of units for production of mono-, di-, and triethanolamines is due t o begin soon with completion scheduled within a year. Allied spokesmen say no ammonia facilities are now planned for Orange. Ammonia received by tank car will b e reacted with ethylene oxide produced here. Products will be fractionated for growing markets in gas scrubbing, and manufacture of surface active agents and other chemicals. Catalytic Oxidation Process. Allied's Orange installation is the first U. S. application of a new catalytic oxidation process developed and licensed by Scientific Design. C. S. Fazel, Nitrogen Division vice president, emphasized that this process produces a high purity product. One of t h e reasons for its selection was company plans t o aim not only for the ethylene glycol antifreeze market, b u t to expand activities 2184
in intermediate sales, particularly in textiles industry. All process equipment and fittings in corrosive service are of chrome-iron alloys. Ethylene oxide storage facilities are also of chrome-iron, Fazel said. Iron content of glycol being produced has been less t h a n 0.1 part per million. A high degree of instrumentation fa-
cilitates plant operation with only 12 m e n per shift. Total plant employees now number 115. Allied chose the Orange site to be near raw material and necessary facilities, states Riemer. Ethylene is delivered to t h e plant b y a 22-mile pipeline from Gulf Oil in Port Arthur. Natural gas for steam, makeup cooling water, and electric power are supplied b y local utilities. Southern Pacific and Missouri Pacific railroads serve the Orange plant. Although there now are no dock facilities on Sabine River plant frontage, company officials are interested in future barge transportation.
Ethylene oxide is scrubbed from reactor gases and hydrated to ethylene glycol in towers at right. Glycol is recovered by fractionation i n towers at left
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