WHAT'S YOUR LINE? lube oil resins butadiene gas oil rosin
I/EC
REPORTS
pharmaceuticals wire enamels chemicals nylon intermediates abrasive wheels
if it's any of these, check into
QO FURFURAL In this crystallization building, one operation is to separate high boiling coal tar chemicals that have previously been processed in the fractionating towers in the background. Scientists of Koppers Central Staff Research Department and the Tar Products Division Development Section de signed each of the operating units so it would serve as the nucleus for future expansion as process and market development might dictate
High Boilers — QO Furfural is used in a variety of industries for different purposes such as selective solvent, resin ingredient, chem ical intermediate, or reactive solvent. QO Furfural's versatility and low price are two reasons why you should evaluate it in your processes and products. Write for Bulletin 204 describing the uses of Furfural.
The Quaker Oals Company CHEMICALS DEPARTMENT
The Quaker Oats
Company
OP ******
In the United Kingdoms Imperial Chemical Industries, Ltd., Billingham, England In Europe: Quaker Oats-Graanproducten N. V., Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Quaker Oats (France) S. Α., 3, Rue Pillet-Will, Paris IX, France; A/S "Ota," Copenhagen, S. Denmark
ZM CHEMICALS
337J The Merchandise Mart, Chicago 54/ Illinois Room 537J, 1 20 Wall Street, New York 5, New York Room 437J, 48 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd., Portland 14, Oregon
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In Australia: Swift & Company, Ltd., Sydney In Japan: F. Kanematsu & Company, Ltd., Tokyo
For further information, circle number 32 A on Readers' Service Card, page 119 A
32 A
INDUSTRIAL A N D ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
Could be the key to new markets for coal chem icals. Koppers has a new approach—start to explore through a pilot plant instead
of the lab β \ NEW ERA may be coming in coal chemicals history: Markets for high boiling products such as phenanthrene, anthracene, and carbazole (PAC). These chemicals will be the first ones explored for commercial possibilities by Koppers at its new Arroyo, W. Va., coal chemical de velopment plant. The facility, opened in July, has a one-ton-a-day capacity. Koppers hails this new unit as an entirely new concept to explore coal chemicals. M a n y times over the years, Koppers, as well as other in dustrial, academic, and government (Continued on page 34 A)
I/EC
KLEMP HEXTEEL selected again for cat cracker lining!
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KLEMP METAL GRATING
CORPORATION
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E620 South Melvina Avenue Chicago 38, Illinois Portsmouth 7-6769
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For further information, circle number 34 A on Readers' Service Card, page 119 A
34 A
INDUSTRIAL A N D ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
REPORTS
laboratories have separated, identified, and characterized materials in coal tar fractions. But never beyond the laboratory state. Rarely could enough material be gathered for a thorough study. T h e newplant eliminates the experimental supply problem—both for Koppers and anyone else that might be interested. And through large volumes of materials may come the clues to newmarkets. O v e r 300 compounds are known to be in coal tars. Roughly 12—which includes naphthalene, pyridine, picoline, and cresols—have found extensive commercial use. These products boil below 500° F. W h a t Koppers will go after are compounds, diphenyl, fluorene, acenaphthene, acridine, and pyrene These chemicals are found mostly in pitch and creosote. Although Koppers fully expects some new markets will be found, the company cautions the project is strictly long-term. Research workers will have a free hand in their work. T h e y will have available any equipment needed to work in the 500° F. plus range. This includes various distillation columns, fractionators, and crystallizers. O t h e r companies in the coal chemicals field will watch the Koppers project with keen interest. But none surveyed by I / E C have any plans, at this time, to build similar development units. If Koppers succeeds it might be a different story. Firms in the coal tar business would like to have ways to upgrade coal tars—nowworth about 1.5 cents a pound in crude form. Another factor: T h e coal chemicals business has had its ups and downs lately. Benzene, for example, is in heavy demand. Coke oven sources cannot meet it alone; petroleum people have thus become vital factors for this and other aromatics. Naphthalene, in short supply a year ago, is now long. Creosote has had competition from pentachlorophenol in certain areas, while quinoline, once the major raw material to make niacin, is now second choice. New markets would be a valuable stabilizer but the big question remains: What's in high boiling coal tars that's worth selling? Says Koppers, " W e are willing to spend 30 years to find out." W.S.F.
