[Dioxin-l] PVC Plant In China

[Vergil Bushnell]

Here is a PVC plant project,
courtesy the World Bank's webpage.

An incinerator will be included to treat "non condensible gas".

Sincerely,

Vergil
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Project Name         China-Suzhou PVC

Region               East Asia and Pacific

Sector               Fertilizer and Other Chemicals

Project No.          008213

1.                   Suzhou PVC is a joint venture between the Westlake 
Group of the U.S.A. and Norsk Hydro a.s. of Norway, as foreign 
investors, and China Jiangsu Chemical Pesticide Group Co. and China 
Taicang Petrochemical Co., as local shareholders.  Both Westlake and 
Norsk Hydro are major producers of PVC with a combined capacity of over 
600,000 tpy, providing the project with the necessary technical and 
marketing expertise.  The proposed project involves the construction and 
operation of a 100,000 mtpa polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin plant and a 
PVC film calendaring facility with a capacity of up to 24,000 mtpa 
within an existing industrial estate in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China.

2.                   This is a category B project according to IFC's 
environmental review procedure because specific impacts may result which 
can be avoided or mitigated by adhering to generally recognized 
performance standards, guidelines or design criteria.  The review of 
this project consisted of information submitted by the project sponsor 
and the technical appraisal and site review completed by IFC's 
Chemicals, Petrochemicals and Fertilizers Department staff.  The 
following potential environmental, health and safety impacts of this 
project were analyzed:

                     . site location and infrastructure;
                     . processes and techniques used;
                     . air emissions;
                     . liquid effluent management;
                     . solid waste management;
                     . environmental and safety standards applied; and
                     . emergency prevention and response.

The information provided about how these potential impacts would be 
addressed in the Suzhou PVC project is summarized in the paragraphs that 
follow.

3.                   The manufacturing facility will be located within 
an existing industrial estate at the Yantze River bank north of 
Shanghai.  The raw material, Vinyl Chloride Monomer (VCM), will be 
received as bulk deliveries by ship, utilizing an existing pier at the 
neighboring company in the industrial estate.  No residents are living 
within the industrial estate.

4.                   The PVC manufacturing plant will be operated based 
on polymerization of imported VCM and will use the suspension method.  
The polymerization section consists of two reactors and a blowdown tank.  
VCM, a suspending agent, buffer, catalyst, and water are charged to the 
reactors.  The reaction mass is heated using steam.  During 
polymerization reaction heat is removed through condenser and the 
reactor jacket.  After the reaction is completed, the batch is 
transferred to the blowdown tank where un-reacted VCM is removed.  The 
PVC slurry is then stripped, dried, stored and packed in bags for 
shipment.

5.                   All VCM removed in the process is collected and fed 
to the recovery section, where VCM is recovered and recycled.  The plant 
will also include an incinerator facility.  Non-condensable gas is sent 
to the incinerator for disposal.  The off-gas from the incinerator is 
treated with a diluted caustic soda solution to neutralize HCl.  This 
off-gas will be the only emission from the plant and will comply with 
local requirements and World Bank guidelines.

6.                   The plant will include wastewater treatment and 
recycling of process waste water.  All process wastewater is collected 
and treated by stripping and precipitation of PVC powder.  The 
wastewater is then sent to the wastewater treatment system for partial 
reuse in the plant.

7.                   The process will not generate solid waste, and the 
municipal garbage disposal system will be used for domestic solid waste.

8.                   The plant operation system provides interlocking 
capabilities and controls to ensure the plant performs in an 
environmentally safe and efficient manner.  The plant design is based on 
U.S. engineering specifications for environment and safety.

9.                   As VCM is a hazardous and flammable chemical, 
significant emergency prevention and response measures will be 
implemented as follows:

        incoming ships and barges will have the individual cargo hold 
unloaded in sequence to avoid and limit spills.  To prevent further 
migration of any spill on the water, floating booms will be available as 
an emergency response measure;
        area monitors will be located throughout the plant to detect the 
presence of VCM vapors at low concentration levels.  These monitors will 
alert personnel to find and repair all leaks immediately;
        storage tanks for flammable materials are with dikes and isolated 
from manufacturing areas and from the plant perimeter.  Proper designed 
relief systems and avoidance of ignition sources within the plant will 
further minimize the risk of fires.  Emergency response to fires will 
automatically be activated by heat-sensitive, manually actuated and 
light-sensitive devices;
        emergency response to fires includes combinations of water deluge 
from fixed spray, monitors, local hose reels and extinguisher; and
        a HAZOP analysis will be prepared prior to mechanical completion.

10.                  IFC will ensure ongoing compliance with World Bank 
environmental, health and safety policies and guidelines during the life 
of the project by evaluating monitoring reports submitted annually to 
IFC by Suzhou PVC and by conducting periodic supervision.

11.                  Based on its review of available information 
regarding potential environmental impacts and proposed mitigation 
measures, IFC concludes that Suzhou PVC's proposed project is designed 
to meet World Bank environmental, health and safety policies and 
guidelines, and host country requirements.

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Vergil Bushnell
Multinationals Resource Center

email: vbushnell@essential.org
phone: 202.387.8030
address: PO Box 19405, Washington DC 20036