HUNTSMAN
INTERNATIONAL LLC
Successfully Reversing Feedstock Shortage Misfortunes Using Sumitomo’s
Game Changing Technology
Before
Stuck in a situation where securing additional supply of chlorine feedstock was challenging.
After
Succeeded in securing safe and stable source of chlorine amidst the tightening regulations.
What made you select Sumitomo HCl Oxidation License?
"At Huntsman, we were producing MDI, a raw material for polyurethane, by utilizing chlorine sourced from a nearby NaCl electrolysis facility within the same chemistry park.
Our MDI business was flourishing and we were targeting further expansion via a new plant. However, the expansion plan suddenly faced severe headwinds when a new regulation was put in force to prohibit the construction of new NaCl electrolysis plant in the complex. and the authorities cited safety concerns of storing large volume of chlorine required for the electrolysis facilities, as its reasons for placing the ban.
We were suddenly faced with the fact that we could not implement MDI expansion by just relying on the conventional electrolysis method and to further compound our dilemma, this also coincided with a period when chlorine availability became tighter than normal due to growth demands, sometimes leaving producers with no other choices other than turning down their operations due to scarce chlorine allocations.
Faced with this unexpected turn of events, we started exploring alternative approaches which ultimately led us to Sumitomo’s HCl Oxidation technology”.
How did Sumitomo HCl Oxidation License help Huntsman?
“Sumitomo’s license was the much needed boost for Huntsman’s polyurethane business at a time of profound feedstock uncertainties. The plant started up smoothly in July 2018 and is running stably to date.
Firstly, being able to recycle HCl by-produced in our isocyanate plant back to high-quality chlorine meant that we had a source of additional chlorine, thus enabling us to proceed with our isocyanate business expansion plans.
Lastly, but perhaps most importantly, the use of HCl Oxidation Technology had led to a significant reduction in electricity consumption compared to utilizing chlorine from the conventional electrolysis method.
On the whole, Sumitomo’s HCl Oxidation Technology was a key enabler for expanding and optimizing Huntsman’s overall isocyanate and polyurethane business in a sustainable manner”.
What are Huntsman’s future outlook?
“Huntsman’s corporate philosophy is to enrich lives through innovation, by utilizing science and ingenuity to create innovations that play a critical role in the everyday lives of many millions of people.”
Remarks by Sumitomo Chemical
This success story is a typical example on how our highly innovative process was utilized by our valued and long-standing client to significantly reduce their dependency on chlorine availability from salt electrolysis plants, thereby clearing the path to stable and sustainable business expansion.
In this age of aggressive transition to carbon neutrality and net zero, it is expected that chlorine supply from the electrolysis plant will become increasingly constrained as companies worldwide strive to reach their targets on GHG emission reduction.
Sumitomo Chemical’s HCl Oxidation Process is designed to not only ensure a stable source of chlorine, but also allows significant reduction in GHG emissions compared to the conventional electrolysis method. Furthermore, the closed recycling loop system realized through the introduction of the Sumitomo process equips our clients with the right wherewithal to successfully comply with even the most stringent environmental regulations in respect of HCl treatment or handling.
In a nutshell, our process delivers all-round benefits to the entire chlorine value chain.