Reference Document on Best Available Techniques in the

4,04
MB Production of Polymers

314
stron

5413
ID JRC-IPTS Instituto de Prospectiva Tecnológica (IPTS)

2007
rok

EXECUTIVE SUMMARYI

PREFACEXI

SCOPE .XXIII

1 GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE PRODUCTION OF POLYMERS. 1

1.1 Definition 1

1.2 Structure 1

1.3 Properties 4

1.3.1 General properties 4

1.3.2 Thermal properties . 4

1.4 Main uses 5

1.4.1 Fields of application. 5

1.4.2 Processing technologies . 6

1.5 Main products 6

1.5.1 Polymers based on crude oil 6

1.5.2 Polymers based on renewable resources 8

1.5.3 Biodegradable polymers 8

1.6 Production and market . 9

1.6.1 General 9

1.6.2 Germany 14

1.6.3 France 16

1.6.4 Spain 18

1.6.5 Belgium. 20

2 GENERAL PROCESSES AND TECHNIQUES APPLIED IN THE PRODUCTION OF POLYMERS

21

2.1 Raw materials and raw material requirements . 21

2.2 Energy . 22

2.3 Chemical reactions . 22

2.3.1 Polymerisation (chain growth reaction) . 23

2.3.2 Polycondensation (step growth reaction) . 25

2.3.3 Polyaddition . 26

2.4 Production processes 26

2.4.1 Suspension polymerisation 26

2.4.2 Bulk polymerisation. 27

2.4.3 Emulsion polymerisation . 28

2.4.4 Gas phase polymerisation 29

2.4.5 Solution polymerisation . 29

2.4.6 Summary of processes . 30

3 POLYOLEFINS 31

3.1 General information . 31

3.1.1 Polyethylene. 31

3.1.2 Polypropylene (PP) 34

3.2 Applied processes and techniques in the production of polyolefins. 36

3.2.1 Alternative processes . 36

3.2.2 Low density polyethylene 38

3.2.3 High density polyethylene . 43

3.2.4 Linear low density polyethylene 50

3.2.5 Polypropylene 52

3.3 Current emission and consumption levels 61

3.3.1 Low density polyethylene (LDPE). 61

3.3.2 LDPE copolymers (ethylene-vinylacetate copolymer (EVA)). 62

3.3.3 High density polyethylene (HDPE) 63

3.3.4 Linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) 65

3.3.5 Polypropylene (PP) 66

3.3.6 Economic parameters for the production of polyethylene . 67

4 POLYSTYRENE . 69

4.1 General information69

4.1.1 General purpose polystyrene (GPPS) .70

4.1.2 High impact polystyrene (HIPS) 70

4.1.3 Expandable polystyrene (EPS) .71

4.2 Applied processes and techniques in the production of polystyrene 72

4.2.1 Process overview72

4.2.2 General purpose polystyrene (GPPS) process 75

4.2.3 High impact polystyrene (HIPS) process78

4.2.4 Expandable polystyrene (EPS) process 81

4.3 Current emission and consumption levels 84

4.3.1 General purpose polystyrene (GPPS) .84

4.3.2 High impact polystyrene (HIPS) 86

4.3.3 Expandable polystyrene (EPS) .88

5 POLYVINYL CHLORIDE .91

5.1 General information91

5.2 Applied processes and techniques in the production of polyvinyl chloride94

5.2.1 Raw materials .94

5.2.2 VCM supply, storage and unloading 94

5.2.3 Polymerisation95

5.2.4 Stripping .98

5.2.5 Drying99

5.2.6 Sieving and grinding.99

5.2.7 VCM recovery100

5.2.8 Water treatment 100

5.3 Current emission and consumption levels 101

5.3.1 Industry standards.101

5.3.2 Emissions102

5.3.3 Energy consumption.103

5.3.4 Emission data from an example S-PVC plant 103

6 UNSATURATED POLYESTER 105

6.1 General information105

6.2 Applied processes and techniques in the production of unsaturated polyesters107

6.2.1 Raw materials .107

6.2.2 Process safety hazard issues .109

6.2.3 Plant layout and operation 109

6.2.4 Storage.110

6.2.5 Polycondensation110

6.2.6 Curing114

6.3 Current emission and consumption levels 115

6.3.1 Emission and comsummption data from example plants .117

6.3.2 Sources of environmental impact .117

7 EMULSION POLYMERISED STYRENE BUTADIENE RUBBER119

7.1 General information119

7.2 Applied processes and techniques in the production of emulsion styrene butadiene rubber 122

7.2.1 Preparation of rubber bales.123

7.2.2 Oil extension.124

7.2.3 ESBR latex .124

7.2.4 Technical parameters125

7.3 Current emission and consumption levels 126

8 SOLUTION POLYMERISED RUBBER CONTAINING BUTADIENE.127

8.1 General Information127

8.1.1 Polybutadiene (butadiene rubber, BR)128

8.1.2 Solution styrene butadiene rubber (SSBR).129

8.1.3 Styrenic block copolymers (SBC) 130

8.2 Applied processes and techniques 131

8.2.1 Purification section.132

8.2.2 Polymerisation section132

8.2.3 Hydrogenation section132

8.2.4 Blending section .133

8.2.5 Solvent removal and recovery 133

8.2.6 Technical parameters for typical solution plants 135

8.3 Current emission and consumption levels 136

9 POLYAMIDES 137

9.1 General information . 137

9.2 Applied processes and techniques in the production of polyamides 139

9.2.1 Polyamide 6 . 139

9.2.2 Polyamide 66 . 142

9.2.3 Spinning techniques . 146

9.3 Current emission and consumption levels 151

9.3.1 Production of polyamides 151

9.3.2 Spinning of polyamides . 151

9.3.3 Potential sources of pollution in polyamide processes. 151

10 POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE FIBRES 159

10.1 General information . 159

10.2 Applied processes and techniques in the production of PET fibres . 161

10.2.1 Continuous polycondensation based on dimethyl terephthalic acid (DMT) 161

10.2.2 Continuous polycondensation based on terephthalic acid (TPA). 162

10.2.3 Continuous solid state post condensation. 163

10.2.4 Batch solid state post condensation 164

10.2.5 Batch polycondensation based on DMT 166

10.2.6 Production of spinning chips 167

10.2.7 Production of staple fibres . 167

10.2.8 Production of filament yarns 168

10.3 Current emission and consumption levels 170

10.3.1 Continuous polycondensation based on DMT, TPA and batch DMT-BPU processes 170

10.3.2 Post condensation processes 171

10.3.3 PET processing 171

11 PRODUCTION OF VISCOSE FIBRES 173

11.1 General information . 173

11.2 Applied processes and techniques in the production of viscose fibres. 174

11.2.1 Processes and products. 174