Document J3GMB0OZ92KBMXXM0Jw2VyBxv

CELANESE CHEMICAL COMPANY Chemcel Plant Bishop, Texas Laboratory Department Summa-ry - December, 1972 - RGB 2-73 Distribution: Messrs. J. H. Frick - Bishop A. S. Baker T. N. Dowdy H. A. Ducote S. W. Fretwell E. J. Heinz L. D. Hinson J. M. Hodges M. A. John B. C. Kerr M. Lantau G. C. Lease C. W* Lee B. L. May W. W. Massey J. T. McMahon W. O. McReynolds R. G. Pongetti R. H. Prinz W. L. Sharp B. F. Smith F. R. Sughrue O. Towery P. A. Turek R. H. Wile C. H. Wilke r H. T. Wilson K. A. Wolf F. T. Talbert J. W. Corley J. M. Ramey T. D. Hunt - - - W. H. Tuke - F. B. McAndrews - Dr. F. Zitomer - W. E. Heinz - W. J. Humphrey - W. T. McNair - Dr. D. R. Napier - W. E. Taylor - Dr. E. N. Wheeler - Central Files - Bay City Clear Lake NY CS Newark Terminal Panipa Summit Summit CCCTC . CCCTC CCCTC CCCTC CCCTC CCCTC CCCTC .- 002560 CELANESE CHEMICAL COMPANY Chemcel Plant Bishop, Texas To: Mr. L. L. Schweers From: R. G. Brandt RGB 2-73 January 15, 1973 Laboratory Department Summary - December 1972 - Status of Laboratory Department projects active during December are des cribed below. Current priorities and department statistics are attached. MO Support - Becker, Harris, Dupree As a result of a high AMR shutdown on December 18, 1972, MO II blew 3 reactor beds (Nos. 3,6, 7) and melted one (No. 1). All 12 reactors were charged with fcew catalyst and 10 out of the 12 used monel support screens instead of copper. Plans are to evaluate the effect of monel support screens on carbon make and ^ficiency when the unit is lined out. An analytical method for determining parts per billion (ppb) iron pentacarbonyl ln liquid methanol samples has been developed and will be used to define the ource of MO catalyst iron contamination. ^5?talin Ion Exchange Resin - Harris, Heinz XFS-4048 resin has been in 50% + formalin ion exchange service for two Months and is performing well. An additional 150 ft ^ of resin has been order*'i th^ Preshipment samples evaluated for putting a second anion into service with * XFS-4048 resin. A resin status report will be issued. l>J>^S-By-Product Butanol Recovery - Dupree fctad^ of 1, 3 BG by-product butanol was found to yield a satisfactory e of butanol for acetate production. A letter will be issued. - Kerr Qal work is in progress to determine the effect of sodium content on the i insoluble polymer formation and foaming characteristics of paraform. 002561 To: Mr. L. L. Schweers -2- January 15, 1973 This work is a continuation of studies aimed at resolving Monsanto's (St. Louis) quality complaints. Formalin Quality - Kerr Analyses of MO product formalin for carbon content have shown typical levels of 5-10 ppm with excursions exceeding 100 ppm. Analyses of PE and Paraform show that significant amounts of this carbon carry through to the finished pro duct. Since Paraform generally received VPO formalin which contains less than 1 ppm carbon, a paraform quality stepchange is anticipated with the VPO shut down. Carbon in paraform is expected to increase from <1 ppm to 10-20 ppm after the unit converts to MO formalin feed. Propanol Quality - Lease The concentrated residual odor of VPO propanol has increased with the intro duction of Carbide propionaldehyde as feed to utility aldol hydrogenation. Utility Aldol product combines with AL Hydrogenation product prior to propanol purification. G. C. analysis fails to show any new impurities. Pentaerythritol Quality - Kerr ^E (Tech grade) quality declined during the first week of January. Natural color has been borderline. Studies are in progress to locate the cause of the problem. propionaldehyde Storage Stability - Kerr f*b storage data show incoming propionaldehyde is easily oxidized by air (caushigh acidity buildup) and should be stored under methane. A report has been ksued. Molybdenum Promoted Nickel Catalyst - Jackson v-.^ab batch hydrogenation runs with the molybdenum nickel catalyst (Raney 4300) ^*1 acetaldol are complete. The results show the Raney 4300 to be more active i Raney 4200 (presently used) for converting acetaldol to 1,3-B.G. Analyti ^ data show a reduction in 1,3 BG heavy ends and butanol make using the i^ey 4300. A report will be issued. Plans are to evaluate the Raney 4300 ^lyst for propionaldehyde hydrogenation next. 002562 To: Mr. L. L. Schweers -3- January 15, 1973 TMP Debottlenecking - Castoro, Prinz Lab glassware piloting of the TMP extractor (T-312) is continuing. Work is in progress to determine if extractor rates can be increased while decreasing the solvent to feed ratio. Sodium Formate for Virginia Chemical Co. - Prinz, Dow, McGehee A sample of "A" Mother Liquor from the PE process was sent to Virginia Chemical Co. for evaluation as an alternate sodium formate source, (RGB 121-72). Evaluation of Japanese PE - Dow, McGehee Two 50-lb samples of KOEI PE (Pure and Tech grade) were evaluated. The pure grade material was comparable to our mono PE, but the Tech grade sample was inferior (low mono PE content, high ash, high formal content). Waste Treatment Studies - McReynolds The activated sludge waste treatment plant continued to experience foaming and flocculation problems most of the month. Outfall water quality was poor with BOD's of 100-400 ppm, COD's of 1000-1800 ppm, and suspended solids of 130-270 ppm. Ticona reports serious foaming problems are caused by trioxane at the 0. 1% Ifivel. We have experienced levels of 0.03 to 0.20^-. Most recent concen trations have been in the range of 0. 07^. Butyraldehyde heels from tankcar bashings were found to cause significant foaming in Lab tests. All detergent ^8age is also suspect. Efforts are being made to identify the foaming sources an,l eliminate them from BOD plant feed. tests are continuing to evaluate biodegradability of PE acrylate by-product Yearns. .^ditional tests on trioxane indicate that it is aerobically biodegradable in the a sence of other organics. We still do not know if it can be degraded under -actual plant conditions. R. G. Brandt 002563 CURRENT PROJECT PRIORITIES Project BOD Plant Rates Acrylates Biodegradability Tertiary Effluent Treatment TMP De-bottlenecking Formalin Quality Pentaerythritol Quality Paraform Quality Post Aldol T-135 Res Recovery Celcon Support Molybdenum Promoted Nickel Catalyst Air Emission MS Steam Savings New Silver Catalyst Supplier MO Optimization Sodium Formate lbs/gal Table Priority 1 2 3 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 3 1 3 Chemist Me Reynolds Me Reynolds Me Reynolds, I Prinz, Castoro Kerr Kerr Kerr Kerr Gary Jackson Dupree Becker Becker Harris, Becker Dupree Harris 002564 STATISTICS Chemical Section Samples Instrument Section Samples Celcon Section Samples Total December YTD 5, 769 3, 1,45 1.669 60,851 29, 938 20,971 10,583 111,760 Prev. YTD 59,814 24,044 18,705 102,563 Sample Shipping - Domestic - Export - Celcon - Other Total 79 1,810 2,-6 70. 35 117 436 12 138 1,292 14 178 381 140 2,241 4, 779 Technicians Overtime - Hours Chemical Instrument Celcon Special Problems Total Shipments (No. of orders) Delayed Shipments Quality Waivers Customer Complaints S'- Customer Complaints Accepted E. 135 854 499 19 428 253 44 395 1,060 0 201 117 198 1, 878 1, 929 699 8, 990 7, 857 0 34 14 0 13 5 2 21 8 1 16 5 002565