Document kbqGw80QneKEqRDV0zoq77jJ

Vsn. X. Johnson - St* Louis, General Oft Lees September 7, 1357 Biphenyl - By-product 'fron Dealkylation Units * 4 -Vw v -jtV.V-'Tf .-yT^-,.W,.;r4 D. 2. MA ARIlk-k-PHARR _jl.. .SOiALR -WSCr A J. C. HUTCHISON .V S i w .At Wo have completed & preliminary investigation. of biphenyl from toluene dealkylation units. Attached you'will find' infernocioV. developed by Jim Beightol on the U. S. rated capacity for do- " alkylation units* Relatively few non-domestic dealkylation units exist but they are listed in. the attachments. The de alkylation of toluene to benzene is currently a popular method. It is dependent to a large extent on the price differential " between--benzeao^jznd toluene.. If the differential becomes -less . it is not good bus files :>""tc dealkylatc toluene,'and therefore, ^ will bo sold ns is. . ' As you can see, the major firms involved in the processing are petroleum companies.* Primarily they are located in the Texas Gu-i crrOi'a . I have consulted with Monsanto personnel fren ??ZjR and find, as a general rule, that approximately 15 of a biphenyl/nethylbiphenyl mixture results in the effluent from a dealkylation unit. As you can see, the amount of biphenyl available from such processing could he enormous. However, the gtvea&s^tc&m bo. recycled and. the 'bi-phenyl, and r.ethylbiphenyl, recor.vcpycod to benzene. It is difficult "g~'"siren guesstimate the amount of biphenyl which might be made available frou dealkylation units * It depends on how each individual operates his furnaces and the recycle techniques. Tor the most part, however, material that is not ''reey*lcd'Wills he-blended off into gasoline anu other-products when this, opportunity-..,,exists. As mentioned above, most of the dealkylators are oil companies with the exception of Dow and Bethlehem. As we have seen, how has chosen to place their product on the market, and Bethlehem possibly diverts theirs for fuel or,some other application. Our people "in- Texas City estimate that the break-even point for our effluent which is rich in biphenyl (approximately 255; is 13.;/gallon. This figure was developed at a benzene price of 25.?/gallon and the purchase price of naphthalene at A-L/lc per lb. Vhis--vaJLuc is somewhat greater than the raw maser inis themselves'in that it includes return on capital to construct facilities to store and load product. It is estimated that I DSW 200566 STLCOPCB4058630 J. C. Hutch >oa _ oy_ _ JT ;ci:;bcr 7. x J kj i there could bo os much as 2O'M lbs* per year in the stream. &tren.ft is sit: eh different ;"than' -that^'Or other' denlkylators irdthr. cur-.f-eed contains-'naphthalene doriyatlWs'v The Monsanto stream is not conditio to for biphenyl isolation because of the naphtha! one content (can't separate). . ' -Thcoretic nlly, it should b'O po-Ssible. fci'-a-toluene dealkylation v.i\is. to wrovida' iiA$i bii^hoftyi. nroviuing "toiucm.o- , is. *hc cacclaS'ivo - feed, biphenyl and r.ie thylb iph eny1 arc the primary by products. The a-ethyl biphenyl 'can bo recharged under appropriate conditions into the doalkylator- and transformed. into biphenyl without disturbing the aromatic nucleus. When toluene is the feedstock;, little if any ncthyinaphthalones or polynuclear aromatics are obtained as by-products. ' * In summary., it is difficult to determine the amount of biphenyl which could potentially be available from dealkylation units. In most instances;, streams containing the product will bo blended off into ether hydrocarbons,, Good quality biphenyl should bo available from dealkylation technology providing one is interested in adjustin'; conditions. Sulphur, naphthalene and other undesirable contaminants'" will net be- present if feed stock is properly treated. _ , -\ I hope that the above information will assist you in appreciating the biphenyl potential from.dealkylation units. ' ' '. ' ................ \ ' ' ' . h. /wn J **%*, Vha* :<d Johnson DSW 200567 STLCOPCB4058631 ' ONUU OO \ /A STATES 3SHZEM2 CAPACT IS FROM' TOLUEHE A PANYr~, s\\ ' O uir. rov.r. Central ow y in^o ScutA Plaint on Sur.rav DX* d-'.CwvJ 0 A LOCATION Catlettsburg, ^Kentucky Sparrows Poing, Md. Corpus Christie Texas Big Springy Texas Houston, Texas . Bay City, Michigan ^ Freeport, Texas j Baytown, Texas j Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Alvin, Texas ............ Odessa, Texas Hou st on, Te xa s Silsoee, Texas Tulsa, Oklahoma. . Corpus Christi, Texas Westviile, Hew Jersey v\ 33HZ3H3 CAPACITY MGAL/YR o 8 -- 30 12 25 --y 12os' 70 ler construction--convoleted irst quarter 1968. I DSW 200568 '5. STLCOPCB4058632 v.\ BENZENE PROM TOLUENE CAPACITIES IN'POREIC-N COUNTRIES Como any Bs-i-bish, Araorioan Oil . Canadian Oil Co. Ltd. Plant Location Montraai,, Qucisa0 Corunna, Ontario. 20,000 23,000 tit*.; tv Centany Italiana Plant Location Naples Naples ' Existing Capacity / 3^000 65,000 Com any Esso-Nederlands Plant Location ' Botlel-c (North Rotterdam) . 300,000 J J * Source: Temple Press DSW 200569 Compiled by: Jim R. Beightol July 11, 1So7 STLCOPCB4058633