E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Inc.

Year Submitted: 2003

Process: Off gas Collection

Industry: Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing

Wastes Reduced: Chlorine

Location: La Porte TX

No. of employees: 1100

Contact: Daniel J. Littlefield

Phone: (713) 470-3122

Description:

We use a chlorination reaction in the manufacture of agricultural chemical intermediates. The off-gas from this reaction is vented to a caustic scrubber. The spent caustic scrubber waste is incinerated at the on-site incinerator. The amount of waste generated by the process is directly related to the amount of chlorine that passes through the reactor without reacting. In 1994, we installed a dip tube to improve the gas/liquid mixing in the reaction. We also redesigned the control system to minimize the quantity of chlorine vented.

P2 Application:

Installation of a bottom-entry short-radius lined dip tube in a glass lined rector.Use of waste minimization as the primary control strategy for the chlorination reaction.

Environmental Benefits:

Because of these improvements, we have reduced the spent scrubber waste by close to 90%; almost six million pounds per year.

Details of Reductions

Additional Information :

Savings related to the incineration costs and reduced raw material consumptions is about $500M/yr. The opportunities provided by this waste reduction incinerator consolidation, improved incinerator performance, higher rates, have not been quantified but are very large.

Source: TCEQ