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Aerial
vieiv of Chemcel
plant
Production of Synthetic Organic Chemicals Booms
Multiple reactor unit ivith purification column in background
1126
A . s THE outgrowth of intensive research in petroleum chemistry, greatly expanded facilities for the production of synthetic organic chemicals from petroleum sources are now ready for operation. Much of this expansion is taking place in the Southwest where there is available an abundant supply of natural gas which can be used both for raw material and for fuel. Typifying developments now under way is the Chemcel plant, located near Bishop, Tex., of the Celanese Corp. of America. Beginning with the basic hydrocarbon gases as raw materials, the company expects to make available many chemicals that were formerly obtainable only in laboratory quantities. Some of these products are n-propyi alcohol, propionic acid, dimethoxymethane, acrolein, and methyl ethyl ketone. The possibility of change in the demands of the chemical market has been provided for at Chemcel by the construction of a utility unit which consists of a variety of towers, condensers, pumps, etc., of stainless steel construction and adaptable to full-scale operation for any number of processes or combinations, depending on current needs. Other companies engaged in the production of chemicals from petroleum sources in the Southwest are Shell Chemical Co., Dow Chemical Co., and Jefferson Chemical Co. The Celanese Corp. is backing up its program of expanded production with a new $3,000,000, 50-acre research center near Corpus Christi, Tex., for advanced development and research connected with chemicals developed from petroleum and its derivatives. The center is a facsimile of a large plant, and all plant facilities are available. CHEMICAL
AND
ENGINEERING
NEWS
Ttecwâ, "Panade
Propyl alcohol production
/,
Large installation
of gas-driven
compressors
Separation
and purification
Recovery
V O L U M E
25,
NO.
16
»
»
-
APRIL
21,
1947
and purification
and purification
unit
columns
unit
1127
