Chlor-alkali industry focuses on transition

Abstract

Pressures on end-use markets, imbalances in chlor-alkali demand, technological innovations, and social responsibility are forces the chlor-alkali industry is now facing. Late last month, at the 2nd World Chlor-Alkali Symposium, entitled An Industry in Transition, about 600 industry members, customers, and representatives from government and environmental groups from more than 30 countries met in Washington, D.C., to examine the impact on business. In the hierarchy of chemical production, chlor-alkali ranks near the bottom. As such, chlorine and sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) form the basis of numerous chemical processes. Chlorine, a coproduct in the electrochemical production of sodium hydroxide, is used in many plastics, solvents, chlorofluorocarbons, and other organic chemicals. Most major chemical companies are chloralkali producers or consumers, with the market adding up to a few billion dollars per year. Key issues are those surrounding major chlorine end-use markets such as pulp and paper, water ...