Marun Petrochemical Complex in Mahshahr, Khuzestan Province, has recently launched a project to collect volatile organic compounds emissions from the surface of the evaporation ponds with the efforts of domestic experts and engineers, as the company moves to help protect the environment and become more eco-friendly, the company’s managing director said.
VOC emissions are considered a serious environmental problem in petrochemical industries. These gases are emitted from certain solids or liquids, and include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects. They cause eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches and nausea, in addition to damaging the liver, kidney and central nervous system.
“The petrochemical company is also pursuing projects in the field of completing the value chain,” Naftema website also quoted Amin Amraei as saying.
“We are making efforts to start work on three projects worth about $700 million. One of the projects is the construction of a propylene plant in the vicinity of Marun Complex. The project seeks to produce feedstock to reach self-sufficiency and stop imports,” he said.
“Marun has also invested in the Salman Farsi propane dehydrogenation or PDH Plant project in Mahshahr. We expect the project to come on stream in two years.”
PDH is used to produce polymer-grade propylene from propane independent of a steam cracker, or fluid catalytic cracking unit.
Propylene is the second most important starting product in the petrochemical industry after ethylene. It is the raw material for plastic polypropylene, a component that is mainly used in the automotive, textile and packaging industries.
The primary source of propylene is from cracking naphtha and other liquids such as diesel and condensates to produce ethylene. However, propane can also be used to produce propylene.
Propylene is a colorless fuel gas with a naturally pungent smell. Although similar to propane, it has a double bond that gives it a combustion advantage. It is extremely flammable but non-toxic.
Strategic Commodity
A strategic commodity in the petrochemical industries, propylene can be transformed into value added products like polypropylene and create jobs in the downstream petrochemical sector.
In Iran, propane is produced at the Bandar Imam Khomeini Petrochemical Complex and Bid-Boland Gas Treating Plant and will be used as feedstock for the new PDH plant. At present, about 1 million tons of propylene are produced annually.
Salman Farsi project is underway with foreign technical knowledge and is planned to have an annual production capacity of 450,000 tons of propylene.
The plant has received licensing from Germany’s Uhde GmbH. The German company is involved in engineering, procurement and operation of the project.
The PDH plant is constructed on 16.75 hectares in Mahshahr Petrochemical Special Economic Zone. The project includes the construction of a warehouse, storage tanks and a laboratory, installation of firefighting systems and related machinery and safety systems.
Upon completion, Salman Farsi Plant will provide feedstock for nearby petrochemical complexes, including Rejal, Marun and Navid-Zar Chimi.
Established in 1995, Marun Petrochemical Complex consists of low-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, polyphenol, olefin, ethylene oxide/ethylene glycol and ultrasonic testing plants.
Iran produces a large variety of petrochemicals (350 types) and exports to 30 Asian, European and South American countries.
