Dow and BASF's JV propylene oxide plant in Antwerp completes start-up phase

The world’s largest propylene oxide (PO) plant, with a production capacity of 300,000 tpa, a joint venture between Dow and BASF's in Antwerp, Belgium, has completed its start-up phase. The new Antwerp unit is the world's largest commercial scale propylene oxide plant, and is expected to consume between 250-300,000 tpa of propylene. It uses HPPO production technology, developed by BASF and Dow, converting hydrogen peroxide and propylene to propylene oxide. This method of production means that co-products are avoided and nothing but the end-product propylene oxide and water are generated. Propylene oxide is a core feedstock for polyurethane.