Bu-Ali Sina Petrochemical Company in Mahshahr, Khuzestan Province, is moving ahead with two projects to produce higher value-added products, the managing director said.
The projects include construction of a paraxylene production unit, and sweetening light naphtha to produce raffinate and liquefied petroleum gas, the Oil Ministry news agency Shana reported Seyed Mohammad Ahmadzadeh as saying.
Paraxylene is an aromatic hydrocarbon, widely used as feedstock to produce industrial chemicals. Among other industrial applications, it is a raw material in the production of synthesis for polymers. In particular it is a component in the production of terephthalic acid for polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate (generally known as PET).
Paraxylene is produced by catalytic reforming of petroleum naphtha. Output from Bu-Ali Complex will be used as feedstock in Shahid Tondgouyan Petrochemical Plant to produce PET. The project to sweeten light naphta is expected to be completed by the end of the current Persian calendar year in March.
A subsidiary of the Persian Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company, Bu-Ali Sina Plant stretches over 36 hectares on the northwestern flank of the Persian Gulf.
Founded in 1998, the company annually produces 180,000 tons benzene, 40,000 tons LPG, among others, available in local and foreign markets.
BSPC products are sold to Bandar-e Imam Khomeini, Shahid Tondgouyan, Amir Kabir, Pars, and Karoun petrochemical companies. Export destinations are the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Europe.
