Orthoxylene (OX) is the second largest of the three commercial isomers of xylene. Almost all OX output is consumed in the manufacture of phthalic anhydride (PA), which has three principal uses: phthalate plasticisers used in the compounding of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resins; unsaturated polyesters resins (UPRs) used in glass-reinforced thermoset engineering applications; and alkyd resins used mainly for surface coatings.
Small quantities of OX are used in solvent applications (which are declining) and to make bactericides, soya bean herbicides and lube oil additives.
A new outlet for OX is in the production of polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) polymer, which is a high performance polyester used in film and rigid packaging where the performance needs are more rigorous than polyethylene terephthalate (PET) products. PEN is an emerging and potentially significant market that could increase the demand for OX in the future.
However, PA demand has the largest influence on the OX markets. The largest use of PA, accounting for 68% of demand, is in the manufacture of plasticisers, principally dioctyl phthalate (DOP), used to modify compounded polymers, primarily PVC. Hence, the consumption of PA is mainly dependent on the growth of flexible PVC, which is sensitive to general economic conditions as it consumed in the construction and automobile industries. Health and environmental issues that surround phthalates used in plasticisers for PVC could also hinder future growth prospects.
The second largest use of PA, at around 17% of output, is in UPRs which are used to produce fibreglass-reinforced resins. Their principal markets - construction, marine and transportation - are also linked to economic conditions while UPR growth is tempered by the major application areas having become saturated.
The third largest outlet at 12% of demand is PA-based alkyd resins, which are used in solvent-based coatings for architectural, machinery, furniture and fixture applications. They are in slow decline due to limits in the level of volatile organic compounds in surface coatings. As a result, there has been a switch to water-based and power coating technologies.
The US market for OX will have been impacted by the slowdown in the new housing market. However, future growth in demand is projected by ICB to be 2%/year up to 2010 with an anticipated upturn in the housing market increasing demand.
In 2006, US demand was 504,000 tonnes and it is predicted to reach 545,000 tonnes by 2010, according to ICB. Imports in 2006 were 291,000 tonnes while exports were 165,000 tonnes.
Future demand growth in Western Europe is expected to be around 1%/year. However, growth in central and eastern Europe is higher at around 2%/year where it is driven by demand from the construction sector.
However, the European OX market could be impacted by the shift away from DOP to alternative plasticisers. This is partly due to concern over the health effects of phthalate plasticisers. For example, the European Parliament has prohibited the use of six phthalates for the softening of PVC in toys.
Little change is expected in the European supply/demand balance in the short to medium term. The only new capacity is a 40,000 tonne/year plant planned by PKN Orlen in Poland with start-up in 2010.
Orthoxylene projects are under consideration in Asia. In China, an 80,000 tonne/year project by China National Offshore Oil in Guangdong is due for completion in 2009. Jurong Aromatics which includes Chinese and South Korean investors is building a 200,000 tonne/year facility in Singapore due for completion in 2011.
Updated: June 2008. Sources: ICB Chemical Profiles, 28 April 2008 and 4 June 2007.
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Orthoxylene
Process Technologies
Mixed xylenes are produced by high severity catalytic reforming of naphtha, from which the C8 stream contains ortho-, meta-, and para-xylenes, and ethylbenzene. Xylenes are also obtained from the pyrolysis gasoline stream in a naphtha steam cracker and by toluene disproportionation. The xylenes are passed through a splitter where the bottom stream with a targeted amount of OX is sent to an OX distillation column to produce high purity product.
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