Sterling Chemicals, Inc.

Year Submitted: 2003

Process: HCN Waste Treatment

Industry: Chemical Manufacturing

Wastes Reduced: Process Chemicals

Substance: HCN

Equipment: NaOH

Location: Texas City TX

No. of employees: 931

Contact: Sam Chamberlain

Phone: (409) 942-3043

Description:

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P2 Application:

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Environmental Benefits:

The project has been immensely successful, having converted about 150 million pounds of HCN to Sodium Cyanide since 1989. This means that Sterling has increased from 20% to 85% the amount of excess HCN that is now being utilized in producing a commercial product. An associated 97% reduction in Hydragen Cyanide emissions to atmosphere has been achieved. This achievement is all the more remarkable considering the fact that the capacity of the Acrylonitrile Unit which generates the Hydrogen Cyanide was expanded by about 50% during this same time period.The clear success of the project prompted Sterling to expand the Sodium Cyanide Unit capacity in 1990 by 67% (from 60 million pounds annually to 100 million pounds). Additional work was completed at the Acrylonitrile Unit to improve usage, recovery and destruction of byproduct HCN. These in-process recycling and pollution prevention techniques enabled Sterling to improve HCN utilization and reduce emissions even more by decreasing the amount of excess HCN sent to the boilers. A special team has been assigned to continue to look for ways to market the remaining fraction of excess HCN from the Acrylonitrile process. Over the long term, Sterling expects to further expand the Sodium Cyanide Process or identify additional ways to use excess HCN in the manufacture of other commercial products. Sterling's ultimate goal is conversion of all HCN into product.

Video: 1

Details of Reductions

Additional Information :

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Source: TCEQ