Bayer to Build New Chlorine Recycling Facility for TDI Production in Shanghai    

Bayer MaterialScience announces this November it plans to build another chlorine recycling plant at the Bayer Integrated Site Shanghai (BISS). The process for this new unit is based on the catalytic oxidation of hydrogen chloride using oxygen. The new technology has been developed by the Japanese company Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd., and was licensed to Bayer MaterialScience. The plant will ensure the chlorine supply of the new 250 000 t/a toluene diisocyanate (TDI) facility in Shanghai. Bayer MaterialScience has now broken ground for this new plant, which is based on the company's innovative gas phase phosgenation process and is scheduled to come on stream in 2010.
    The new chlorine recycling technology enables a reduction in energy consumption of more than half versus the conventional process.
    The process will take hydrogen chloride co-produced during the manufacture of isocyanates, and will convert it very efficiently to chlorine which is re-used as raw material.
    At BISS, Bayer MaterialScience has just started a new hydrochloric acid electrolysis plant to supply the 350 000 t/a diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) train with chlorine. It uses the energy saving Oxygen Depolarized Cathode technology, which has been developed by Bayer and partners.
    "By combining these two innovative technologies, we will strengthen our cost leadership in the isocyanate production. We will also be able to significantly reduce energy consumption and by that contribute to climate protection", said Peter Vanacker, head of the Polyurethanes Business Unit and member of the Executive Committee of Bayer MaterialScience.