Styrene
26 October 1998 00:00 [Source: ICB]
Steady demand growth in Europe and the rest of the world is
forecast for the next few years
Supply/demand
Total styrene capacity in northwest Europe is put at just over
4.8m tonne/year and will reach more than 5.6m tonne/year in 2000.
New capacity is being built by Basell (BASF/Shell) and Repsol, with
Lyondell Chemical's (Arco) project now postponed to 2002-03.
Demand growth in western Europe is estimated at 2.6%/year while
east European consumption is expected to recover to 4.9%/year
through to 2002. World demand is forecast to grow at 3.8%/year for
the next four years, falling to 3.5%/year thereafter. Global
operating rates will fall to the mid-80% levels to 2002 after which
industry experts expect them to start recovering, maybe reaching
88-90% in 2005.
Uses
Polystyrene is the largest derivative accounting for about
two-thirds of consumption. Styrene is also used to make
styrene-butadiene rubber, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS)
resins and emulsion polymers whose end uses include packaging,
construction, automotive and household goods.
Health & safety
Styrene is a colourless oily liquid with an aromatic odour. It
is a highly flammable and reactive chemical and a fire and
explosion hazard. It is classified as a mutagen (causes genetic
changes) and exposure can irritate eyes, nose and throat.
Technology
The traditional aluminium chloride catalyst used in the
alkylation of benzene with ethylene to ethylbenzene (EB) is being
replaced with zeolite catalyst technology. Around 90% of styrene is
then produced commercially by the dehydrogenation of EB in the
presence of steam over an iron oxide catalyst in either fixed bed
adiabatic or tubular isothermal reactors.
Other routes include co-production with propylene oxide (PO/SM)
from EB hydroperoxidation, and oxydehydrogenation of EB with air.
Butadiene-based processes have been developed to make EB
(DSM/Stamicarbon) and styrene (Dow Chemical) but are not believed
to have been commercialised.
###7079###
EUROPEAN STYRENE CAPACITY, '000 TONNE YEAR
| Company |
Location |
|
Capacity |
| Arpechim |
Pitesti, Romania |
|
80 |
| BASF |
Antwerp, Belgium |
|
500 |
|
Ludwigshafen, Germany |
|
510 |
| BP Chemical |
Marl, Germany |
|
380 |
| Dow Chemical |
Terneuzen 3, Netherlands |
|
500 |
|
Terneuzen 4, Netherlands |
|
525 |
| Elf Atochem |
Carling, France |
|
330 |
| EniChem |
Mantova, Italy |
|
350 |
| Kaucuk |
Kralupy, Czech Republic |
|
100 |
| Neftochim |
Burgas, Bulgaria |
|
40 |
| Petrocel |
Teleajen, Romania |
|
50 |
| Repsol |
Puertollano, Spain |
|
150 |
| ROW |
Wesseling, Germany |
|
365 |
| Shell Chemicals |
Moerdijk, Netherlands |
|
400 |
| Basell* |
Moerdijk, Netherlands |
550 |
Q2 1999 |
| Lyondell Chemical |
Rotterdam, Netherlands |
640 |
postponed |
| Repsol |
Tarragona, Spain |
340 |
H1 1999 |
| * BASF/Shell Chemicals production jv |
ICIS Copyright © Reed Business Information 2009
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