Evonik and Headwaters increase hydrogen peroxide capacity at Ulsan

23-Jan-08

Headwaters Inc. and Evonik Industries AG (formerly Degussa AG) have increased production capacity at its hydrogen peroxide facility operated by their joint venture in Ulsan, Korea. Using proprietary technology from Evonik, the JV has more than doubled capacity from the original level of 34,000 metric tpa within a year. HeadwatersEvonik acquired this facility from the Finnish company Kemira Oyi, Helsinki, in 2006. The hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) produced in Ulsan will be supplied to customers in Korea and to the adjacent facility operated by the Seoul-based company SKC. In the next few months, SKC will start up one of the world's first production facilities for propylene oxide (PO) based on the HPPO process. Hydrogen peroxide and propylene are feedstock materials for this low-cost, environmentally friendly method of producing propylene oxide, which is used in the manufacture of polyurethane. SKC has acquired a license for the HPPO process, which was developed by Evonik and Uhde, Dortmund, Germany.