Plant Engineering Lyondell Basell Starts Up World’s Largest PO, TBA Facility

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Lyondell Basell has commissioned the world’s largest propylene oxide (PO) and tertiary butyl alcohol (TBA) facility in Texas, USA. With a capacity of 470 thousand metric tons of PO and one million metric tons of TBA annually, the unit aims at optimizing production.

Houston/USA – Lyondell Basell has successfully started up the world's largest propylene oxide (PO) and tertiary butyl alcohol (TBA) unit in Texas, USA. These new assets on the U.S. Gulf Coast have an annual capacity of 470 thousand metric tons of PO and one million metric tons of TBA and its derivatives.

"The world-leading capacity of the new plant positions us to meet the growing demand for products essential for modern life," said Chris Cain, Lyondell Basell senior vice president for Global Manufacturing. "Our company strives to be trailblazers in our industry and make positive contributions through our environmental and sustainability initiatives. This project advances our company's goals and creates value while meeting customer and society's needs, and it involved a collaborative effort between multiple project teams at Bayport, Channelview and around the world to deliver a project of this magnitude."

The PO/TBA project is a split facility design, intended to optimize production and leverage synergies shared by the Lyondell Basell Channelview Complex located in Channelview, Texas and the Lyondell Basell Bayport Complex located in Pasadena, Texas, USA. The 140-acre PO/TBA plant was built at the Channelview Complex, while the associated 34-acre ethers unit, which will convert TBA to oxyfuels, was built at the Bayport Complex.

The project is part of the company's multi-billion-dollar series of investments along the U.S. Gulf Coast. Based on an analysis by the Greater Houston Partnership, the Lyondell Basell PO/TBA project is estimated to generate more than 450 million dollars in tax benefits for the county, school district, community college and other local taxing districts over a 10-year period.

The development of Lyondell Basell PO/TBA operations began at the Bayport Complex, with the first PO/TBA unit starting up in 1969. Through 50-plus years of global experience with PO/TBA operations and applying new innovations in yield improvement and PO recovery, the PO/TBA plant at the Channelview Complex is the most energy efficient PO/TBA facility in the company’s history.

PO goes into making polyurethane foam typically used to create mattresses and car and furniture seat cushions. It is also used to make insulation, which can be used to increase the energy efficiency of homes and businesses. Other common end uses for these products include liquid detergents, toothpaste, cosmetics, paints and spandex fabrics.

TBA is converted to produce two ether-based oxyfuels, methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) and ethyl tertiary butyl ether (ETBE). Both MTBE and ETBE are high-octane fuel additives that help gasoline burn more efficiently, reducing emissions from automobiles.

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