Document 70yvv8z1gKj4ov2LYdv7r493B

To: Dr. R. R. Graham CELANESE CHEMICAL COMPANY Chemcel Plant Bishop, Texas From: G. D. Boyd GDB-166-82 April 12, 1982 Second Quarter Work Plans Laboratory Department Attached are the Second Quarter Work Plans for the Laboratory Department. GDB:j r Distribution: J. J. Fritsch J. F. Harper D. G. Pausky J. R. Mullin W. H. Meyer G. R. Scholz M. D. Harvey G. L. Cade C. W. Lee D. D. Siemonsma W. L. Sharp D. E. Lockwood H. H. Thigpen L. M. Harvey A. G. McGehee B. C. Kerr F. R. Dow R. R. Carpenter W. P. Hightower R. S. Hahn K. R. Stelts J. C. Rubiano W. A. Heenan l G D. Boyd Plastics R. G. Brandt D. W. Steele D. A. Reck E. J. Heinz CCCTC G. J. Fisher W. E. Heinz W. T. McNair Central Files (2) J. N. Gann, Bay City J. E. Sanborn, Bayport J. L. Paul, Clear Lake T. H. Golson, Dallas D. W. Harris, Pampa File No: 303.2 000802 GDB-166-82 Page Two 2nd Quarter Work Plans SPECIAL PROBLEMS ~ Group I (MS, Oxo/BuOH, MO, Paraform, Esters, Formcels" H. H. Thigpen, Group Leader PRIORITY 1 1 1 1 1 OBJECTIVES PLANS Paraform, Formcels, Esters, Weak Formaldehyde -P. W. Young, J. E. Russell Meet production plans and quality specs. (MOB) Maintain frequent contact with units and provide technical sup port as needed. (Young) Make paraform prills in a pilot unit at Bishop. (MOB, CR) Identify and define the effects of key variables which are important in making and drying paraform prills. Effects of ad ditives, (both type and amount), temperature, prill size, ageing and humidity of drying air will be studied. The effects of these parameters on rate of assay increase, HCHO losses, dusting, molecular wt. change, solubility and rate of melting point change will be studied. Continue through second quarter. (Russell, Young). Methanol Oxidation, Formaldehyde Blending, Loading Rack - J. F. Glenister Meet production plans and quality Maintain frequent contact with specs. (MOB) Operations, help identify problem areas and supply technical support as needed. Determine efficiency losses to specific components in MO IV and and MO III. (CR) Sample MO IV absorber vent and MO III vent and analyze for specific by-products, MeOH and HCHO. Calculate efficiency losses to each component. Minimize product color. (MOB) Continue to monitor product color to detect any improvements which may result from improved T-185 side stream decanter operation or new decanters planned for MO II and MO III side streams. Continue through second quarter. 000803 GDB-166-82 Page Three 2nd Quarter Work l-lans PRIORITY 2 2 2 1 1 OBJECTIVES Determine whether the sinter test is important and qualify Engelhard as an alternate supplier. (MOB.CR) Develop improved washing technique for catalysts. (CR) Develop better catalysts (CR.MOB) Reprocess silver catalysts at Bishop. (CR) Improve the frequency of "good" catalyst startups. (CR) PLANS Continue to collect sinter test data and correlate it to catalyst performance. Evaluate performance data on Engelhard. Late second quarter. Continue evaluation of ultrasonic cleaning of used catalysts. Late second quarter. Continue development of the GC/MO reactor for rapid catalyst evaluation. Support Process Engineering study study as needed. Collect data on temperature profile and other parameters during catalyst startups and correlate to performance. MS ~ P. W. Young 1 Meet production plans and quality Maintain frequent contact with specs. (MOB) Operations, help identify unit problems, and supply technical support as necessary. 1 Reduce corrosion in MEA systems. Provide technical support for (CR.MOB) Process Engineering MEA system corrosion inhibitor trial. 1 Improve performance of carbon Support Process Engineering and beds for removing sulphur con Production as needed. Evaluate taining compounds. (MOB,CR) potential methods to regenerate spent carbon. 1 Ensure safe unit shutdowns. (MOB) Conduct a literature search to better define the temperature range of nickel tetracarbony1 formation, and evaluate the current reformer shutdown procedure with respect to the temperature at which sampling should begin for nickel tetracar bonyl detection. 000804 GDB-166-82 Page Four 2nd Quarter Work Plans PRIORITY 1 OBJECTIVES Oxo/Butanol - T. A. Jasek Meet production plans and quality specs. (MOB) 1 Extract inactive rhodium from reactor solution. (CR) 1 Keep account of rhodium charged to the reactor. (MOB) 1 Clean up amine contaminated Run VI catalyst for reuse.(CR) 1 Extend Run VII by water or water/MeOH washing (CR) 2 Continuously add rhodium to the reactor. (CR.MOB) 1 Reduce foaming in reactors. (cr,mob) 1 Use poly alpha olefin (PA0) as reactor solvent. (CR,MOB) PLANS Maintain frequent contact with Operations, help identify unit problems, and supply technical support as necessary. Support cursory design and econo mics development for inactive rhodium extraction project as re quired. Assist in maintenance of rhodium accounting. Complete lab pilot tests with phosphoric acid extraction of two 250 gal. batches by early third qtr. Complete Plant test by midsecond quarter. Support Plant test as required. Determine the stability of rhodium nitrate-glycol solutions in support of Process Engineering's continuous rhodium addition system. Follow Bay City reactor foaming study and evaluate with respect to the Bishop Oxo Unit. Support Plant test as required. Industrial Health - C. E. Gary, K. V. Parker 1 Formaldehyde Methods Validation Validate Celanese and NIOSH (MOB) chroraatropic-acid methods for determining HCHO in air; evaluate Monsanto 2,4-DNPH method for determining HCHO in air; field validate Celanese, NIOSH and Monsanto methods and two types of passive dosimeters (3M and Du Pont) (Gary) 000805 GDB-166-82 Page Five 2nd Quarter Work Plans PRIORITY 1 OBJECTIVES Industrial Health Methods Validation (MOB) 1 Noise Exposure Monitoring (MOB) 2 Nuisance Dust Monitoring (MOB) 2 Silica Monitoring (MOB) 2 Methanol Exposure Monitoring (MOB) 2 Area Surveys for Organics (MOB) PLANS Serve as Bishop Laboratory repre sentative to the Industrial Hygiene Analytical Committee. (Gary) Complete personal noise exposure monitoring for Maintenance job classifications; conduct additional monitoring of personnel in support of noise control studies program. (Parker) Determine personal exposure to nuisance dust in the PE Unit. (Parker) Conduct additional sampling for personal exposure to silica in the sandblasting area and the ABI shop downwind to establish a better statistical base. (Parker) Monitor personal exposure to methanol in potential exposure areas. (Parker) Conduct area surveys for organics other than formaldehyde and methanol. (Parker) 000806 GDB-166-82 Page Six 2nd Quarter Work Plans SPECIAL PROBLEMS - Group II (Polyol, BOD, Utilities) L. M. Harvey PRIORITY 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 OBJECTIVES PLANS Waste Treatment; Utilities - D BOD Unit Support (MOB) R. Akin, R. K. Kaderlik, G. R. Stasney Maintain frequent contact with Operations, help identify problem areas, and supply technical support as needed. (Akin) Utilities Unit Support (MOB) Polyol Addition to BOD (MOB) Maintain frequent contact with Operations, help identify problem areas, and supply technical support as needed. (Kaderlik) Support Operations in addition of polyol effluent to BOD. (Akin) Treatability of Unsteady-state Polyol (MOB) Continue to evaluate the treatability of polyol effluent at unsteady-state flows and com positions. (Akin, Kaderlik, Stasney) Treatability of VCI Effluent (WMSTF Support) Evaluate the treatability of VCI effluent in BOD II with increasing amounts of polyol effluent. (Akin, Kaderlik, Stasney). Vacuum Truck Characterization (WMSTF Support) Complete characterization of vacuum truck contents to support waste disposal process design; support SHE department in development of procedures for determining method of disposal. (Akin) BOD Aerobic Optimization (MOB) Determine optimum operating para meters (oxygen uptake rate, ATP level, dehydrogenase level, sludge age) for the BOD II aerobic system (with addition of polyol effluent), and reconfirm adequacy of the clarifier at future loading by developing flux curves. (Akin) 000807 GDB-166-82 Page Seven 2nd Quarter Work Plans PRIORITY 2 1 1 1 2 OBJECTIVES Flocculant Evaluation (MOB) WMSTF Objectives (WMSTF Support) Aerobic Treatment of Polyol Effluent (MOB) TPP, TPPO Emissions (MOB) Cooling Water Treatment (MOB) PLANS Support Process Engineering during Plant trial of flocculant addition. (Kaderlik) Supply technical help and conduct Laboratory studies as necessary to support achievement of WMSTF goals. (Akin,Kaderlik) Isolate bacteria which can treat branched polyalcohols. (Akin) Quantify TPP and TPPO emissions resulting from T-210 residue incineration. (Akin) Support Operations and Corrosion Engineering in cooling water treatment program. (Kaderlik) Diacetone Alcohol - J. C. Bustabad 1 DAA Unit Support (MOB) Maintain frequent contact with Operations, help identify unit problems, and supply technical support as needed. 1,3-Butylene Glycol - J, C. Bustabad, R. L. Day 1 1,3-BG Unit Support (MOB) Maintain frequent contact with Operations, help identify unit problems, and supply technical support as needed. (Bustabad) 1 Supply Nepera With Crotonaldehyde Provide Laboratory support as needed in developing process to coproduce crotonaldehyde in the 1,3-BG Unit. (Day) 1 Minimize V-778 Wash-outs (MOB) Identify satisfactory solvent(s) to be used to remove fouling from V-778 during shutdowns; support Operations during Plant trial. (Bustabad) 2 Eliminate T-218 (CR) Provide Laboratory support as needed to evaluate the proposal to eliminate the low-odor column (T-218). (Bustabad) 000808 GDB-166-82 Page Eight 2nd Quarter Work PLans PRIORITY 1 1 1 1 2 OBJECTIVES PLANS Trimethylolpropane - J. C. Bustabad, R. L. Day, B. K. Huelle TMP UnitSupport (MOB) Maintain frequent contact with Operations, help identify unit problems, and supply technical support as needed. (Huelle) Recover TMP From V-747 Residue (CR) Continue Laboratory studies to improve the economics of the proposed methanolysis of TMP heavy-ends to recover TMP; evaluate neat hydrolysis of V-747 residue with and without T-205 overhead; evaluate hydrolysis of V-747 feed. (Huelle) TMP Expansion (MOB/Unit Expansion) Support CCCTC and Process Engineering as needed to evaluate any changes proposed for the unit expansion. (Bustabad) Extractor Optimization to Increase TMP Efficiencies (CR) Conduct Plant trials to vary operating parameters as previously recommended to determine optimum operating conditions. (Bustabad) Determine Efficiency Losses and Environmental Impact of Condensing Concentrator Vents (MOB) Develop VLE data to determine efficiency losses and to determine the increase in load ing (hydraulic and COD) to BOD II as a result of condensing the TMP concentrator vents. (Day) Pentaerythritol - R. L. Day, B. K. Huelle 1 PE Unit Support (MOB) Maintain frequent contact with Operations, help identify unit problems, and supply technical support as needed. (Day) 1 Recover PE From VCI Waste Stream (CR) Evaluate back extraction for re covery of PE from the extract generated in VCI's future extrac tion of AML with 2-ethylhexy1amine. (Day) 000809 GDB-166-82 Page Nine 2nd Quarter Work Plans PRIORITY 1 2 2 2 OBJECTIVES Low UV absorbance PE Specification for Du Pont (MOB) Low Linear Formal Specification for Dow (MOB) Monitor PE Reaction (MOB) Determine Efficiency Losses and Environmental Impact of Condensing "A" Evaporator Vent (MOB) PLANS Continue to monitor PE Unit operating parameters during pro duction of pure-grade PE for Du Pont; continue studies to determine source and identity of impurities causing high UV absorbances at 220 mn in PE; maintain contact with Du Pont to coordinate efforts. (Huelle) Continue to confirm intralot con sistency of low-formal shipments to Dow. Determine if there is another parameter which might provide a better indication of performance of pure-grade PE with respect to the color of the Dow product. (Huelle) Develop method to determine con centration of pentaerythrose (reaction intermediate) in order to monitor the completeness of the PE reaction. (Huelle) Develop VLE data to determine ef ficiency losses and to determine the increase in loading (hydraulic and COD) to BOD II as a result of condensing PE "A" Evaporator vent. (Day) MO, Formaldehyde Blending - R. L. Day 2 Variability Study of Stability of Determine variability in stability HCHO Solutions (MOB) of HCHO solutions with respect to impurities, assay, age, etc. (Day) 000810 GDB-166-82 Page Ten 2nd Quarter Work Plans STAFF CHEMISTS B. C. Kerr, F. R. Dow PRIORITY 1 OBJECTIVES Solve the Formaldehyde "Scum" Problem at Dow (MOB) 2 Synthesis of Di-PE (Process Development) PLANS Develop and standardize a perfor mance test for determining suitability of Celanese HCHO in Dow's Versene" reaction. Use performance test to evaluate various known impurities in HCHO. (Kerr) Continue investigation of catalytic conversion of mono-PE di & tri-PE. Determine purification requirements for converted product. Determine optimum yield and efficiency. (Kerr) tc 1 Solve the Formaldehyde "Scum" Identify the impurities which Problem at Dow (MOB) cause scum in Dow VerseneTM made from Celanese HCHO. (Dow, Wise) 1 Minimize HCHO Product Color (MOB) Provide analytical support for the HCHO color problem. (Dow, Wise) 1 MOB Continue use of capillary GC for quantitative identification of impurities in Chemcel products. (Dow, Wise) 1 Support the Rainfall Runoff Task Force (MOB) Continue monitoring Plastics and Chemical Co. rainwater runoff. (Wise) 2 MOB Install new AA in Special Problems Lab; determine optimum operating conditions for critical elements. (Dow, Wise) 2 MOB Develop a capillary column procedure to monitor methanol and dist. column components for MS catalyst life and activity. (Dow, Wise). 000811 GDB-166-82 Page Eleven 2nd Quarter Work Plana PRIORITY 2 OBJECTIVES Support WMSTF Effort to Restore Solar Ponds 3 MOB 3 MOB 3 MOB PLANS Determine organic components in pond bottom water washings.(Dow, Wise) Develop a standardized procedure for filtration of bacteria from BOD, and determine its possible effect on COD. (Dow, Wise) Determine variation of volatile fatty acids in BOD systems. Correlate with BOD upset and possibility of predicting BOD upsets. (Dow, Wise) Optimize GC utilization in Speci Problems Lab. (Dow, Wise) 000812