Sasol selects S&B as EPC contractor for US ethylene tetramerization plant
Sasol has selected Houston-based S&B Engineers and Constructors as its engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCm) contractor to build its recently-announced ethylene tetramerization plant in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
The pioneering plant will utilize Sasol's proprietary technology to convert ethylene to 1-octene and 1-hexene. This unique process was developed in Sasol's R&D laboratories in South Africa, and selectively produces alpha olefins required for high- growth polymer markets, the company said.
Engineers and scientists from Sasol North America (SNA) participated with an international team to design the unit, which will utilize the new technology on an industrial manufacturing scale.
The project is targeted for start up in mid-2013 and will produce 100,000 tonnes/year of combined 1-octene and 1-hexene, according to André de Ruyter, Sasol's senior group executive responsible for operations.
With current production of over 350,000 tonnes/year, Sasol is a major producer of co-monomer range alpha olefins. 1-octene and 1-hexene are used as co-monomers in the manufacture of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and elastomers, it says.
The products impart special characteristics of elasticity and strength in plastic used in consumer products such as food packaging, bags, toys, automotive interiors, power cable coatings and more.
Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
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