Davy technology for Sasol chemical plant

London - Davy Process Technology Ltd has licensed its 1-octanol production process to Sasol Chemical Industries Ltd. The technology is jointly owned by Davy and Union Carbide Corp, a subsidiary of Dow Chemical Co.

The process, which employs low pressure hydroformylation technology, will be applied at 1-octene plant. The unit is being built for Sasol Olefins & Surfactants at Sasol’s Secunda complex in South Africa, Davy announced 13 June.

The new facility will be the third and largest of three 1-octene trains at that location, but the first to employ a hydroformylation step, according to the company statement.

Sasol will use the process to convert heptene feedstock — separated from olefinic cuts — supplied by Sasol Synthetic Fuels (Pty) Ltd. The 1-octene end product is a chemical intermediate in the production of polymers such as polyethylene, fatty acids, plasticiser alcohols and lubrication oil additives.

The first two trains, already in operation, use direct extraction of 1-octene from olefinic cuts. The new train will produce 100 kt of 1-octene, and is scheduled to go into operation during the second half of 2007, according to Davy.

Davy completed the basic design of the octanol section of the new facility at its London office, while the EPC work is being carried out by Linde AG.