Document 5bMLNBxwxekxd243E2R9wDeQR

" '* ** ' ' <: - INTERNAL CC .* ft ; i.=t..; ?; : .* C1 UNION CARBIDE C0RPCn..T!0: '\ dwhioi* 7ii<*ta* ./ / F. P. Huffard, ir. p\ jj. Wheeler "Cjm < 1730 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE. N. W., WASHINGTON, D C. 2orGt" .i. January 21, 1976 Kc.LlVr JftN g 3 ig75 triolniting 0ot. Amwrinf lu datft R. N. WHt-wt-i. #.< 5uD,*CT Polyvinyl Chloride V*? ' + v 4fF,t' V f ' Earlier this week, Jerry Kenney received a telephone call from the man whom the attached letter is addressed. He asked the following questions: 1. Is Union Carbide closing a dispersion vinyl resins unit? 2. Do we make solvent vinyl resins by a continuous process, ami can the resin be stripped of monomneerrs easily? 3. Have we any data on the removal of vinyl chloride contained in water at a few parts per million concentration by use of molecular sieves? The flow diagram and process information is from a report submitted to EPA and is therefore in the public information category. Very truly yours. GJHidal ,, * * j-r-** Attachments - " eft* George J. Hanks, Jr. `UtV TV ej)f " *- - ucc 002982 UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION 1730 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE. N. W. WASHINGTON, O. C. 20006 January 21, 1976 Mr. Barry Castleman 1738 Riggs Place, NW Washington, D.C. 20009 --^ Subject: Polyvinyl Chloride Dear Mr. Castleman: Attached is a copy of the recent announcement of the planned closing of Union Carbide's dispersion vinyl resins manufacturing unit at South Charleston, W. Va. As I said in our phone conversation, this decision was made purely on a business basis. I am also enclosing a flow diagram of our solvent vinyl resin manu facturing process. This process cannot be used for polyvinyl chloride homopolymers, but is used for making copolymers of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate, with the acetate running in the neighborhood of 8-15%. In this process, these monomers are polymerized in an organic solvent in which both reactants and the polymers are completely soluble. A mix ture of unreacted monomers, solvent, and polymer in solution leaves the reactors. Unreacted monomer is removed in a stripping process and is recycled. The polymer is precipitated from solution, centrifuged, and then dried using hot air. Unreacted monomer in the polymer-solvent solution fed to the precipitator has an affinity for the solvent. As a result, the dried resin monomer content is below the present detectable limit. Solvents recovered from the process are recycled for reuse. As I mentioned, our Chemicals and Plastics Research Department told me that they had done no work in investigating the removal of vinyl chloride from water through the use of molecular sieves. I will attempt to find out more about their potential applicability in this service, and will get in touch with you when 1 have any pertinent information. Very truly yours. GJH:dal Attachments George J. Hanks, Jr. ucc 002983 ucc 002984 1MI0K CMUilDE'S SOLVENT VINYL RKSTN yj'.OCKSS _ A I I 1 SlloV L) ; wr J'licluiv.'-1'*'. m i.: r. Nwi' ............ AT SOUTH CHARLESTON ....... . ............. ' KA'KIA'WMA VALIEV CAMtBEfc' Dispersion Resins Shutting Down Carbide announced this weak that we ora shutting down our vinyl cfiipenton rejlni unit at the South Chorleston plant by the end of the year. The facility It located in Building 190 on the Itland. . About 60 employees ore involved and they will be reassigned to other opera( tloni whan the shut-down ti completed. The decision to discontinue vinyl dispersion resin production Is based solely on on analysis of our comrriarciol position which indicates that to remain in this I business is not justifiable. The urylt hoi o capacity of 40 million paynck a year which is less than 10 per cent of ihe domestic industry capacity. 1 Insteod, Carbide hot decided to con centrate its support efforts on solution end suspension vinyl resins In which we have a strong market position. Additional capital will be expended for these opera tions. Carbide is an Industry leader in solution vinyl resins which ore produced by o unique solvent polymerization pro cess at both South Charleston and Texes City. These are widely used for solution cootlngrt in cant, house siding, paper, cloth, and high performance maintenance paints. We olso produce a brood tine of sus pension vinyl resins tn o modem produc tion unit at Texas City. These are used In such applications os piping, floor tile, and extruded cellular moldings. Carbide pioneered and built the first commercial unit for the production of vinyl resins at South Charleston In 1930. MORE PRODUCTIVE TIMES.........This night shot, with lights reflecting Irf the Kanawha River, showt( our Vinyl Dispar-> sion'Resin Unit (Bldg. 190) on Blabia Itland at the South Charleston Plant. Carbide announced we will be phasing hut our Dispersion Resins business by the end of the year. January 9, tP^i ucc 002985