OREANDA-NEWS. Kazanorgsintez, JSC started synthesis process and producing commercial Bisphenol-A aim grade product after the completion of all mechanical and pre-commissioning works of Kazanorgsintez’s BPA Plant.

BPA Plant’s Synthesis Department got the first batch of liquid Bisphenol-A. Then, based on technical regulations the product was developed to the required quality standards using columns and filters.

Since 10.00 am on October 27th, BPA Plant started to produce first commercial Bisphenol-A aim grade product in prills. The production rate is 4.2 t/hr for now, that means 50% of design capacity. According to the Licensor’s requirements this production rate will be maintained within two weeks to run the process with gradual increase up to 100%. The works are going on under the supervision of licensor’s start-up team - Japanese company "Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd".

It is in KOS plans to deliver the obtained product to the customers in small batches to confirm certification requirements. From mid November 2007 BPA Plant is planning to achieve the design capacity of 70 000 tons per year. The all documentation necessary for Bisphenol-A realization is available for the time being.

The new BPA Plant was practically built within two years. Kazanorgsintez concluded License Agreement and Basic Design Project with Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd in October 2004. The first concrete work was done exactly one year later, in October 2005. In May 2006 the first process equipment – Bisphenol-A synthesis reactors – came on site; and before December 2006 Kazanorgsintez got all major static and dynamic equipment on site, which was immediately installed. Start-up of the first equipment in May 2007 that means Kazanorgsintez pulled demineralized water to the reactors with further catalyst reduction and readiness to pull phenol with the target to produce Bisphenol-A aim grade product.

The main raw materials to produce Bisphenol-A are phenol and acetone which production in Kazanorgsintez was established in 1963. To comply with today’s requirements of BPA production, phenol and acetone productions were retrofitted with increasing of phenol capacity up to 65 000 tons per year. Capital investments into this project were about 2 billion rubles.

The application of Bisphenol-A is as follows: Production of epoxy resins used for paintwork materials and powder coating, bonding materials, and items for electronic boards. Also, Bisphenol-A can be used for production of polysulphonic resins, polyarylic resins, special phenolaldehyde resins, polyether imidic resins, unsaturated complex ether resins, bromated combustion inhibitors, and stabilizers of various polymers.

The main application of Kazan’s Bisphenol-A will be production of polycarbonates which Kazanorgsintez plans to start in the Quarter II of 2008.