This report reviews the conventional processes and economics for making butadiene based polymers and chemicals and also examines some of the developing butadiene based technologies.
Based on the availability of low cost stranded natural gas and the prospect of lower production for methanol costs due to "mega" scale plants, this report explores the idea of extending the methane value chain.
It is likely that MTBE will be discontinued for use as a fuel oxygenate in the U.S. This report examines some potential oxygenated replacements based on a number of criteria. A forecast for the supply/demand of MTBE is also included.
Process technology/economics of epichlorohydrin are presented. Routes include conventional allyl chloride, Showa Denko allyl alcohol route, and speculative route based on Dow Chemical patent using acrolein as feedstock. Regional S/D forecasts are given.
Technology and economics of ethylbenzene and styrene production. Several variations of conventional EB dehydro technologies are presented along with the PO/styrene co-product process. Regional supply/demand forecasts for styrene are presented.
Chemistry, process technology, and production economics for various approaches to making trimellitic anhydride and pyromellitic anhydride. Developing Nippon Shokubai gas phase process for PMDA is compared to conventional liquid phase process.
Process technology and production economics for LLDPE manufacture. Gas phase (BP Amoco, Elenac, Mitsui, Montell, Univation), Solution (Dow, DSM, Nova), Phillip' slurry are presented. Developments in metallocene and easy processable grades are discussed/assessed.