PRODUCTION Flame Acetylene Production Up Capacity f o r thermal production o f acetylene from hy drocarbons will t o p 2 5 0 million pounds this y e a r 138ACS
NATIONAL MEETING
Petroleum Chemistry This year, installed capacity- for mak ing acetylene thermally will exceed 250 million pounds. Since the first com mercial rise of such a process began in Late 19·">2. the growth of this route to acetylene has been rapid and has con tributed much to the integration of the petrochemical industry . Acetylene by flames will probably never supplant carbide acetylene, which is a much older and larger in dustry. Monsanto Chemical's Dr. Walter B. Howard told the Division of Petroleum Chemistry's Symposium on Chemicals from Flames. But it has found favor in areas that have supplies of relatively cheap hydrocarbons, ac cording to Dr. Howard. Acetylene production can thus b e divorced from the requisites of a car bide plant—low-cost electricity, coke and Lime in one vicinity. In addition, the newer route permits use of oil-gas from the acetylene plant to make other chemicals. Such off-gas supplies ma jor feed-gas needs for some methanol and ammonia plants, as well as for oriier products. Since 7 5 '
