Abstract
BP Chemicals last week introduced its new Cativa catalyst system for making acetic acid, which it says enables faster and more efficient production. In a commercial test, the system was fitted in December into a 792 million lb-per-year acetic acid plant in Texas City, Texas, that Sterling Chemicals owns and operates in an exclusive arrangement for BP. The test indicates that the system makes possible design refinements that can increase capacity relatively easily. The resulting process is also more efficient, cutting energy and purification costs. Savings can be significant, says Graham Hunt, chief executive for BP's acetyls business. Production economics vary widely from plant to plant, he notes, but cost savings of 10 to 30% are possible. BP will eventually offer the Cativa system for licensing. The system—designed for use in the methanol carbonylation process—features an iridium acetate catalyst enhanced with proprietary promoters. Current methanol carbonylation uses a rhodium catalyst. Hunt points o...
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