Document dnX1anNnBmzwd3NK6zNqBMEpq

MONSANTO CHEMICAL COMPANY Texas City, Texas October 28, 1958 ' i " . '. i T. Anderson K. Eckert G. Erdman-Spgfld. M Jones P. A. Trost J. V. Waggoner I J. S. Putnam A. E. Withrow U. F. Zimmermann Phenol-Free VCM These Eire the minutes of a meeting held in Mr. Putnam`c office on October 27, 1958 at 1 p.m. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the Quality problems on the phenol-free VCM which has been shipped to General. Background On September 29, 1958, a car of phenol-free VCM was shipped to General. Upon arrival. General found no phenol in this car. And on the basis of this performance, they ordered 10 more cars to be shipped in October. TheEc ten cars have been shipped', and on the basis of the analysis at the time of shipment were plienol-free. On the first two of these cars. General found 2 to 3 ppm of phenol in one, and about 1/2 ppm in the other. General accepted these cars and used the VCM. However, since they feel that any amount of phenol Is bad, even in trace quantities, they operated their caustic scrubbing system to use the VCM. While they have not asked for an adjustment on thi3 VCM, it is felt that we most likely will have to give them a credit of to per pound on the material^ ^ Actions To Be Taken Since General now is our major customer for VCM, It is imperative that the VCM shipped to them be absolutely phenol-free. To do this, these things will be done. 1. Harry Keating Is to call Springfield and ask them if we can start shipping them phenol-free VCM on a temporary basis. SafiL wti*' Xf Springfield agrees, this will enable us to work all the takC ff/wu-fu phenol out of the VCM system. Verification -chat the system r , j-ij is phenol-free would be made by analyzing each car until jot. all car3 show no phenol. CBY 1111682 RSV0031157 *J vf'b'fy' ,S1 -2- Sales Is to Inform field salesmen that wo will have phenol-free material for shipment after November 10, 1958. mis elves us two weeks to establish a procedure for guaranteeing that the material shipped is absolutely phenol-free. 3. On all cars shipped to General in the future, three samples will be taken. Each of these samples will be analyzed for phenol, and all must show zero before the car is shipped. If any one of the samples show phenol, another car will be loaded and analyzed for shipment. 4. cri CL t <* a I r iC lP 'i I " U ! LI V `` ^5 We nov; have tiro cars of phenol-free VCM that were set aside to meet future orders. Three samples will be obtained from each car,each1day^and analyzed to assure that the car is phenol-free and to allow the Control Lab to set up the procedures for handling the three samples per car. 5. Materials Handling will request Design Engineering to estimate tftS cost of moving the phenol additional facilities from the location in the unit to a location at the loading rack. This would enable us to put phenol in the cars as the VCM is loaded and would keep phenol out of the VCM piping and storage system. If Springfield will agree to receive phenol-free material permanently, it will be necessary to provide for phenol addition at only one loading spot since present sales of phenol inhibited VCM amount to only 3-5 car3 per month. 6. If the movement of the phenol facilities appears to be too costly or impractical, a good look will be taken at running a temporary line from the rundown tanks to one or too loading spots, /'urow* 7. Phenol-free material will be loaded only in cars which have been shop-cleaned or cars that have been in phenol-free service. ru*~i><+1 s. /Itjk f C ^ ll', -<t ( f'% * Vu* l j r 1 < f, -h <. Production has been investigating the reinstallation of filters to filter out VCM polymer as the VCM is loaded into tank cars. Harry Keating reports that a spare filter is available from polyethylene. Perhaps this can be tested by making a temporary installation at the tank car loading rack. Bill Zimmermann reported that the major troubles with polymer occur when it is necessary towater wash the VCM. To keep water out of the system 1 off-spec VCM will be l?e-run instead of water washed. TSiis will hem eliminate Ihis problem. fJ- Sf CBY 1111683 y< ItT'S RSV003] 153 V_ 1 / ^ 1 r -3- 9 Don Brown will follow with the field salesmen to inform Cot /1 ( -'y General of the trouble we have had and the efforts we are going to to be sure that only phenol-free material will be shipped in the future. "/'7. rd I C8Y 1111684 RSV0031159