Working plans are underway to construct a world scale plant in Shanghai to manufacture polyurethane raw materials MDI and TDI. Work is currently in progress on Bayer MaterialScience's new hydrochloric acid electrolysis facility at the integrated Shanghai plant. This plant due to be commissioned in 2008, has an annual chlorine capacity of 215,000 metric tons.
The polyurethane chemicals plant with chlorine recycling is to include oxygen-depleting cathode technology, developed by Bayer MaterialScience and partners, deployed on a large scale for the first time.
Hydrochloric acid, a by-product in isocyanate production, is separated during electrolysis into chlorine and hydrogen by means of electricity, with oxygen as a co-reactant. The chlorine obtained is reused for isocyanate production and deployed in a continuous cycle. The electrode that depletes the oxygen functions as a cathode, which is why the new process is referred to as oxygen-depleting cathode technology. The ODC electrolysis process saves energy.
21-Sep-06 
