Document xjYYm09BG8wQ9gbrkrLQjd96Q

Engineering Producers explore new ways to bottle up VCM Last week the Society of the Plastics Industry hied a motion asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (New York) to stay its ruling that upheld the Occupational Safety and Health Ad ministration's standard on exposure to vinyl chloride monomer (CIV, Feb. 12, p. 12). SPI also says it will petition the U.S. Supreme Court to review the Circuit Court decision. Meanwhile, technology is being devel oped and exploited to help producers meet the April 1 deadline for limiting worker exposure to the OSHA standard of l ppm. of gas (averaged over an eighthour period). Item: Monsanto and Dravo Corp. (Pittsburgh) are preparing to sign an agreement that will permit the engineer ing firm to offer Monsanto's polyvinyl chloride reactor-cleaning technology. Item: Herzog-Hart (Boston) is propos ing an enclosed polymerization operation and a vapor reaction system that will pro cess the enclosure's atmosphere, recover vinyl chloride gas. Item: Harry Rudberg (Stockholm) is oflenng a new electronic monitor that will detect vinyl chloride gas at levels as low as 1 ppm. And these developments are only the rip of the iceberg. Virtually every instru ment company, vinyl producer and PVC plant designer is at work on new ideas for locking up vinyl emissions so they will pose no threat to health. Says Goodyear: "Our plans for contin ued PVC production have not been con tingent on a favorable ruling by the court on the petitions for review of the OSHA standard. We intend to maintain produc tion under the new standard at all our PVC plants with the proper use of respi ratory equipment. "The company has already made nu merous improvements in equipment, pro cesses, and work practices including the use of respirators as required. In addition, we are continuing our intensive research and development programs on new and improved technology. These programs al ready Have provided promising results which are now undergoing further eval uation and in-plant testing. "Our plants are operating with average exposure levels of 6 ppm. In compliance with the standard, we have in place alarm systems winch signal any levels above 25 ppm. and are installing alarms for lower levels. For the first year, wearing of res pirators is optional with employees (for exposures] up to 25 ppm. We have most of the respiratory equipment required and we have ordered additional equip ment for delivery within 60 days." Firestone Plastics sums up the attitude of producers. "We're trying everything that's available," says the company, "but there's still no way to get down to 1 ppm. without respirators. Solvent Cleaning: Monsanto's tech nology for solvent cleaning of reactors in volves tetrahydrofuran. The company has been using the technique in the produc tion of PVC at a lOO-million-lbs./year plant since the mid- 1960s. Cleaning frequency In PVC plants ranges from every five batches to 50. And while the older, smaller reactors often were scraped manually, it seems likely that this method will give way to the sol vent techniques, such as that developed by Monsanto. Advantages over manual cleaning, ac cording to Monsanto: In terms of product quality, less contamination from batch to tatch; quicker turnaround time; poten tial of reduced worker exposure to VCM ana otner emuent organics. Also it oilers the potential of closed-reactor operation, since the solvent can be pumped in and agitated automatically without opening the reactor. Other cleaning methods include: high- monomer. There would be a product of variable quality, which could possibly be come marketable in the future, 1 picture the polymerization units as pods, re motely operated, totally enclosed, em ploying a solvent cleaning system limiting physical cleaning to every eight reactions. The slurry lines would be trenched or double piped for vapor recovery. The fil ter, centrifuge and slurry tanks would be equipped with vapor recovery systems with all escaping monomer being wasted through a vapor reaction system." Of research now under way, Herzog says, "I'm sure we will develop processes which will include improved solvent sys tems, continuous self cleaning reactors, clean monomer from vapor recovery and possibly a secondary reaction process." Gas Monitoring: No one is certain what types of instruments will be re quired to meet government standards. But a number of devices already are on the market. The latest entry was developed by Harry Rudberg AB. The first unit will be installed at a PVC plant operated by KemaNord, Sweden's largest chemical company. A semiconductor activates an alarm when a pre-set limit of vinyl chlo ride gas is reached. A system with three detectors and central alarm is priced at Companies are `trying everything that is eveileLIa,' but say there still is no way to reduce worker exposure to 1 ppm. without using respirators pressure water and water-detergent sys tems: use of solvents such as m-pyrol (GAF) and methylene dichkmde. Vent Gas Problems: Another big source of headaches is recovering mono mer from the process vent gases. Tenneco Chemicals for example, is trying to solve the problem by adsorbing the monomer from vent gas streams with activated car bon in a unit designed and fabricated by Chemical Design (Lockport, N.Y.). Another idea is being proposed by de signer Herzog-Hurt. The firm emisions totally enclosing the polymerization pro cess and continuously evacuating the con tents of the enclosure. The vapor contain ing the monomer would be [noee>sed in a reaction initiated by ultraviolet light. da.j rreMikul Line-a A llet/.ou: " ! he reactor would be small, the process con tinuous. The system initially would be es tablished as a wasting process for vagrant $1,600 in Sweden. Rudberg claims the unit will detect 1 ppm. of gas. Others with instruments include: Beck man Instruments (Fullerton. Calif.), CVC Products (Rochester, N.Y.), Wilks Scien tific (South Norwalk, Conn.) and Bendix Process Instruments (Ronceverte, W.Va.). Beckman's entry is a process gas chro matograph (Model 6700) (hat is sensitive to 0.02-ppm. concentrations of vinyl chlo ride gas. Air measurements at fixed or variable sampling sites in the plant may be made as often as 30 times per hour. Beckman supplies a spectrophotometer for measuring vinyl chloride in the air. CVC Products supplies a gas chro matograph system that works in tandem with a mass spectrometer. Bernluc also has 4 gas chromatograph system. And Wilks Scientific has an infrared unit that samples 12 different points sequentially to detect vinyl chloride concentrations. BFG13653 February 26. 1975 CHEMICAL WEEK 39 21418001 JOURNAL OF COMMERCE, Thursday, February 20,1975 Chemical Markets Lanolin Price Range Shows Consolidation Fine Chemicals A degree of ''saniiv" has re turned to the lanolin market as prices have started to shew some signs of stabilization sources said, and they are consolidating into a narrower range than has been seen- in he recent past. But, the producers empha- size that lanolin supplies are tight and woo) grease, the primary raw material. Is stiH priced at very high levels and s hrshort supply. Overall prices are falling into a range of the mid $1.30* to the krw Jl.40s for cosmetic grade, although at least one producer is quoting prices ranging from $1.33 up to $1.64 for It) quantities. During The dosing weeks of 1974 prices were scattered all around, ranging from $1.08 to about $1.60 per pound. Pharmaceutical grade was quoted Wednesday from $1.31 to $1.35. "I think that those who sell the grease realize that it is not worth $1 JO per pound, and if the price* keep going up for wool grease and lanolin, the markets will be Lost,1' said one producer. Another source said, "this Is the general theory." Sources also noted that they have heard of spot sales for wool grease as high as $1.30 or $1.30 per pound. Industry people have ex pressed fears that if the price of lanolin goes too high then users would look to substi tutes. At one time some said SIper pound would be the cut off point. But now, with many in dustries reporting stow sales, it is difficult to tell who -is cut ting their use of lanolin be cause of tiie price and who Is reducing its consumption be cause of reduced sales. Sev eral sources said the demand tor their product was still relatively high. However, an executive with one producing company said that users might be reluctant So change existing formula tions and product identity, but tanoHn'i growth could be stunted if new products are formulated without it. Word auctions are ciHTendy West Coast Director Named by Cyanamid Journal of Commerce Special LOS ANGELES -- Richard G. Keppler has been appointed to the newly-created post of regional director of chemicals on the West Coast for Ameri cas Cyanamid Co., it was an nounced here by George W. RusselJ, senior vice president. Mr. Keppter's offices wid be at 2300 South Eastern Avenue here. Mr. Russell said crca tion of the new position is in line with Cyanomici's pro)ected long-term growth poten tial m chemicals on the West Coast. being conducted in Australia, and the Australian Daily News, published by the Consulate General's office, said that the Japanese and Eastern European bloc are the princip al purchasers. A lanolin producer assorted that the Australian Govern ment has bought more than 40 per cent of the auction's offernigs in order to support the price level. "When what they have stockpiled hits the market, we'll have grease coming out o! our ears. The question, is when." Industrial Chemicals Current prices for alcohols posted by the Union Carbide Corp. are as follows: Ethanol 190 proof, undena tured specialty grade, $1 per gallon: ethanol 200 proof, tindenatured specialty. $1.10 per gallon; `'Synatiol" solvent, 190 proof GF-3, SL04 per gallon. N-propanoL 23 cents per pound; isopropanol an hydrous, 70 cents per gallon: n-butanol and isobutanol both 22 cents per pound: n-pentanol, 2-methyl butanol and primary amyl alcohol are list ed at 30 cents per pound. Methyl amyl alcohol is 27.5 cents per pound, 2-elhyHiexanol k 28 cents per pound, and diisobutyl carbinol is 58 cents per pound, freight col lect. All prices are for Carbide's freight axe A. Phthaiic anhydride product'.cc declined by 103.57 million pounds in-i December com pared to Nov.'s figures. The U. S. International Trade Commission reported that December's production totaled 308.47 million pounds while November's stands at 414.04 milHon pounds. The cu mulative total for 1974 is 3.996 billion pounds. Paint Materials Scattered small resales of casein at 73 to 74 cents for in dustrial and 88 cents for edible have been reported by the U. S. Department of Agricul ture. Exporters ere reported in creasing their inquiries about U. S. inventories because it's been almost a year since the last large volume purchases were made. However, in dustry sources have said that inventories are stretching out because of the overall slow pace of business. ElOW SCHCPUU POLYETH. LO, HI DENS. POLYPROP. Call (213) 33S.30R3 TOBEY CHEMICAL CO. 434 IMuSmhwaA**1.*.4N* YC tOOIT PENTAETHYLENE HEXAMINE m*MIB CHEMICAL SALES CO. Plastics Corner Vinyl Industry Decides To Make Another Attempt Against OSHA Regulation By WILLIAM H. LANDER Journal of Commerce Staff The vinyl industry has de cided to continue its court fight against the OSHA regu lations for the vinyl chloride industry promulgated by the secretary of labor on Oct. 4, 1974. After two days of con sultatloos involving executives of The Society of the plastics Industry, senior executives of manufacturing firms, and a battery of lawyers, in Wash ington, the question was what to da about the $ to 0 adverse decision handed down by the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in. New York on Jan. 31, 1973. It la understood that a variety of opinions were expressed, but at the end it was decided not to accept the Circuit Court's decision An appeal to the highest court in the land -- the U. S. Supreme Court in Washington -- however, does not auto matically mean that the court will hear the case. In normal practice, -when an appeal reaches the court, it Is sub mitted to the justices, and un less at least four want to hear the case, it is not put oa the calendar. It is cot easy to get four votes out of nine, as many ap pellants have found out la the past. And as things now stand, the vinyl manufacturers will need four votes out of seven, as Justice William O. Douglas and Justice Thurgood Mar shall are absent, being at Bethesda Naval Hospital. The decision of the SPT and the manufacturers to go to the Supreme Court mease that it was felt that it was not good strategy to go back to die Sec ond Circuit and ask the full bench to hear an appeal against what Its three-man panel had decided by unani mous vote. It will be recalled that Justice Tom Clark, a for mer member of the Supreme Court, said that the court found lhat the contentions of the appellants were "meritless." In the final paragraph of the long opinion, he said: "It Is our conclusion that the challenged aspects of the sec retary's vlnyi chloride stan dard are supported by sub stantial evidence in the record and that the petitions for re TIRES FASSINaiR. TRUCK. CONSTRUCTION AND TRACTOR FOR EXPORT OR domestic ust. AU SIZSS AVAIUBU FROM MAJOR MANUFACTURER. RADIAL AMO RAIS fit. DIRICT FACTORY SHIPMENTS. ASK rot MAC BfftG CHIMICAl CO., INC. 441 W. J7H* 1,, NYC 1001* (312) *41-4993 OTfERINO CAUSTIC POTASH STD. Ttaha OTIC ACID. A NwNf ORAX. OfCA A PtNTA SODIUM SUITATI ANHYDROUS STAR, Grm. A NwJtr I. CHIMICAl CO. view must be denied. Taking Court Is the one that should into account the delay occa resolve the tinaL status of the sioned by these petitions, we standard, he said. think that a reasonable `lead time' !s appropriate and there fore order that the secretary's Carbide Promises regulations, rather than being Full Disclosure effective Jan. 1.1973. shall be come effective 60 days after the date of this order and that the time requirement as to respiratory protection... is rescheduled accordingly." F. Perry Wilson, chairman of the boardot Union Carbide Corp.. has promised lull dis closure of the cause of tbe ac cident at the Antwerp low-deiv sity polyethylene plant as soon As a starter the Society of u it has been determined. the Plastics Industry filed a motion, with the court of ap peals in New York, asking for a stay of its ruling of Jan. 31. pending application to the Su preme Court for a writ of certiorl. The SPI also asked for a continuance of* the temporary standard of 50 parts per mil lion pending final disposition oi the case. . It was announced that the petition for a writ will be filed within 20 days, and that every "It Is our intention to share everything we learn with the rest o< the industry so that fu ture tragedies of this type can be avoided." Mr. Wilson said. He expressed regret for the tragic loss o( Kfe and. the in juries resulting from the Feb. 10 explosion. It took six lives. A team of technical experts is continuing the investigation. As previously reported. It caused substantial damage to the facility and operations will effort wlM be made to get the proceedings before The Su preme Court on the ground that the court of appeals enred In Ks interpretation of the "substantial evidence" rule when It oa Jan. 31 upheld the be out Indefinitely. Customers have been assured that their needs will be supplied from , other Union Carbide affiliated companies in Europe and from producing locations in other parts of the world until OSHA one part per million standard. production is resumed at Ant werp. Union Carbide and its The SPI further argued affiliates produce tow-density that, contrary* to the enabling polyethylene in Sweden. Scot legislation which created OSELL the one ppm standard subjects the Industry to a technologically and economlcaIIy Infeasible regulatory code. The SPI further contends that even OSHA has conceded the infeasibility of the stan dard based on one ppm: the SH also said that OSHA made a "policy judgment" in the land. Japan, Australia, Lnd-ia, Brazil, and Canada, in addi tion to the United States. The plant, situated on the right bank of the Sheidt River i-n Antwerp, is operated by Union Carbide Belgium., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Union Carbide Cerp. It had a capacity of 3C0 million pounds a year. case rather than basing it on factusl data. National Patent Ralph L. Harding, president of the SPI. said that the VCMPVC industry is making every effort to reduce worker ex posure levels, and added that this work will continue regard less of the fact that it has peti tioned the Supreme Court for a review. He said that the de cision to ask for a writ of eer- tiori was based on the <fact that the appellate court ruling would have required the VCMPVC Industry to develop in National Patent Corp. re ported net income for the fourth quarter of 1974 was $193,113 on sales and other revenue of $6,934,877. com pared to a net toss of $2,144,783 on- sales of $3,891,325. a veer earlier. Net income for 1974 was Sl.732.821 on sales and other revenue of $21,769,184 compared to net loss of $5,531,483 on revenues of $18,094,521. feasible engineering controls and work practices in an at Meitinger framed tempt to achieve unknowable Sylvester Meitinger has exposure levels. The petition ers 'believe that the Supreme been appointed marketing manager-automotive rubber for the SWS Silicones Corp., dioctyl phthalate Adrian, Mich. SODA ASH RESORCINOL HYDROQUINONE AVAIiAlLI FROM OUR WAREHOUSI DIPROPYLENE GLYCOL TITANIUM DIOXIDE PROPIONIC ACID ZINC OXIDE BORIC ACID - BORAX ISOPHORONE PRIMARY AMYL ALCOHOL CHEMICAL SERVICE CORP. 2 METHYL BUTANOL P.O. * 370 flcfcHI Cantr*. N.Y. 11371 (3H) 334-3333 (313) 341-7S73 ASK TOR MAC tac CHCMICAl CO., INC. 441 W. 37th St., NYC 10011 (213) 841-4*93 OTFtflIHO MORPHOLINE DETA PIHAMII CHEMICAL SALES CO. 1033 Virlnl _Drlr TO PLACE YOUR ADVERTISING ON rttie r * t*c rfp, i 'lasa T006TfrT2 T