US PPG plant membrane cell conversion cuts cost

23 August 2007 22:27  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--US chlorine and caustic soda producer PPG will save 25% on its electricity costs after converting its Lake Charles plant in Louisiana from mercury to membrane cells, the company said on Thursday.

“Electricity is the biggest cost to any chlorine producer, and membrane cells use less electricity to produce the same amount,” the company said.

PPG unveiled the fully converted Lake Charles plant on 21 August after a two-year, $100m (€74m) project to install the membrane cells.

PPG said the membrane unit will have about the same production capacity as the mercury unit - 249,500 tonne/year. PPG also operates six diaphragm cell circuits at the Lake Charles facility with a capacity of about 998,000 tonne/year.

In addition to energy savings, the conversion to membrane cells mitigates the risk of mercury contamination in Lake Charles that has made the plant a target of Louisiana environmental activists and regulators.

($1 =  €0.74)
By: Greg Holt
+1 713 525 2653

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