Ineos starts up Europe’s largest cumene facility; halves CO2 emissions
Ineos Phenol says it has started production at Europe’s largest cumene facility in Marl, Germany.
The world scale 750,000-tonne facility produces up to 50% lower CO2 emissions per tonne of product, it adds. The significant reduction in emissions is enabled by pioneering cumene technology in combination with unique heat integration at the Marl Chemical Park.
The well located plant will use existing pipeline connections between Ineos’s phenol and acetone production sites in Gladbeck, the Evonik Chempark in Marl, and the BP refinery and cracker complex in Gelsenkirchen. The site also benefits from the nearby Marl harbour waterway connection. Most of the waste heat from the plant is used for a district heating circle further reducing the carbon footprint of the site.
Cumene is an essential raw material in the production of phenol and acetone, which are used in a wide variety of applications including medical applications ranging from aspirin to throat lozenges and sprays. Their derivatives are also used in contact lenses, artificial joints, dentures and dental fillings, as well as many other applications.
Ineos adds it is the world’s largest producer of phenol and acetone, and the largest consumer of cumene.
The plant was constructed in association with CAC Engineering GmbH, who managed the project under an EPCM model. CAC work included FEED verification, detail engineering, procurement, construction and pre-commissioning of the plant.
Hans-Juergen Bister, Operations Director for Ineos Phenol, said: “We are delighted that INEOS Phenol’s world scale facility is up and running. The unit strengthens our European Phenol position in terms of feed-stock supply. At the same time it helps to reduce the carbon footprint of the business.”
“We are investing heavily in reducing our carbon footprint when producing essential materials. We know our customers are doing the same and supplying them with an equally strong and reliable product but with a significantly lower environment impact is an enormous step forward.”
