P. 1



# OAR Box 1872

Prepped by Keeia Richards



## Document

Number: 

# 3 ) 11-1-5 2

Docket Number: 

# A-90-1 9

Printed 11/26/2008 8:51:46

AM Sheet 3 of 204

# w. rt-t

i ci '_<

_ib-i- i KHUiHM " LUKP" . KlF»'""'Ti C 

## -0^kai P%&chg&

Mpzefim

' - JANUAR Y 198 9 ?**-*- * a^

- Augus

t 198 3 TR 

### iETHYLEN E GLYCO L 

# A-80- 1
Hfl i

FOCUS....Triethylen e glyco l (TEG ) i s one o f the glycol s mad e b y hydratin g ethylen e oxid e (EO) . I nproduc ing monoethylen e glyco l (EG ) b y E O hydration , TEG en d diethylen e glyco l (DEC ) er e mad e a s byproduct s o r coproducts . Whil e th e ratio s o f glycol s produced , an d recovered , a t EG plant s ca nvary , the hydratio no f E O generall y

yield s abou t 90 S mon o E G b y weight , wit habou t 8-10 S DEGan d I S TEG . Th e ratio s o f glycol s produce d ca nbe varie d somewha t b y changin g the productio nrat e en d feeds . Wherea s DE G byproduc t suppl y generall y

exceed s deman d (excep t i nperiod s o f overal l glyco l shortag e - suc ha s 1988) , th e byproduc t suppl y o f TE G i s usually fa r les s thanrequire d b y en d us e markets . I nrecen t years , th e potentia l availabilit y

o f byproduc t TE G ha s bee ninthe rang e o f 5 0 millio npound s wit hU S E G outpu t o f abou t 5 bil lionpounds . Some DE Gan d TEG byproduc t fro m Canadia nEO/E Gfacilitie s i s refine d i nth e US . Abou t 4 mil lio npound s o f TE

G wa s subsequentl y

exporte d t o Canad a i n1988 . U S estimate d demand fo r TE G o f 10 9 millio n pound s i n198 8 wa s abou t doubl e th e amoun t theoreticall y availabl e e e byproduct . T o suppl y th e quantit y required , i t ha s bee nnecessar y t o intentionall y

produc e TEG o r "force " productio nb y reactin g DE G wit h additiona l EO . Intime s o f norma l glyco l demand , makin g on-purpos e TEG i s attractiv e t o a numbe r o f EG producer s sinc e i t utilize s exces s DE G an d upgrade s the profitabilit y o f th e entir e produc t line . Becaus e o f it s hygroscopi c properties , th e majo r applicatio nfo r TE G i s ga s dehydration . TE G dehy drate s natura l gas , variou s hydrocarbo ngases , compresse d air , carbo ndioxide , synthesi s gases , flu e gas , nitrogen , an

d cracke d gases . Sou r gase s ca nbe processe d wit happropriat e anticorrosio nmeasures . DEG , TE G an d tetraethylen e glycol s ar e suitabl e absorbent s wit hTEG preferre d i nmany applications . Hig hconcentra tio nglyco l regeneratio nmake s the proces s economicall y attractive . TEG reclaimin g b y carbo ndioxid e absorptio ni s a simpl e an d economica l operation . Bot hTE Gan d a tri/tetr a mi xca nb . reclaimed . Reduce d demand fo

r natura l ga s dehydratio nhel d bec k the overal l growt hrat e fo r TE G fro m earlie r expectations . I n1987/1988 , increase d consumptio no f unsaturate d polyeste r resin s en d polyurethane s b

y th e auto motiv e an

d housin g constructio nindustrie s led t o increase d demand fo r highe r glycols , suc ha s DE G an d TEG . I nadditio nt o polyester s an d polyurethanes , TEG i s sls o use d i nmakin g viny l plastici2e r esters . Al thoug ha declinin g application , TEG continue s t o b e use d a s a humectant . OUTLOOK....Growt hfo r TE Gdurin g th e 1950 s an d int o the 1960 s exceede d a 10 * annua l average . Growt hwa s le d b y the us e o f TEG i nnatura l ga s dehydration . Humectan t applications , particularl y fo r tobacc o prod ucts , als o grew

wit htriethylen e glyco l replacin g glycerin e becaus e o f economics . I naddition , th e us e o f TEGi nunsaturate d polyeste r resin s an d urethane s increased . Durin g the te nyea r perio d precedin g th e recessio no f 1975 , annua l growt hdroppe d t o abou t 83 . Ga s productio nexperience d slowe r growt hand , i n petroleu

m processing , aromatic s extractio nplant s bega nt o us e othe r solvents . Productio ndecline d sharpl y i n1975 . Demand fo r TE G the nincrease d throug hth

_firs t hal f o f the 1980's . However , TE G consumptio ni n natura l ga s dehydratio nagai ndecrease d wit hthe collaps e o f petroleu m an d ga s price s i n1985 . Th e us e o f TE G i nnatura l ga s an d industria l ga s dehydratio nwil l probabl y onl y hav e moderat e futur e growth . I naddition , ther e ar e n o significan t new

en d use s identifie d for TE G en d i t i s possibl e tha t TE G wil l los e furthe r positio ni nsom e application s becaus e o f performanc e and/o r pric e competition . Futur e U S consumptio nwil l therefor e probabl y be i nthe rang e o f 10 0 millio npound s pe r yea r int o the earl y 1990's . PRICING....Commerciall y ther e ar e tw

o grade s o f triethylen e glycol , technica l an d hig hpurity . TEC , fro m a pricin g standpoint , i s usuall y considere d on e o f th e bette r profi t opportunitie s a s fa r a s ethylen e deriv atives , particularl y commodit y

ethylen e glycols , ar e concerned . Producer s hav e bette r contro l ove r pricin g and profitability . I t ha s somewha t specialize d market s compare d t o the lowe r glycol s and , unlik e diethyl en e glycol , i s no t a surplu s byproduct . T o satisf y marke t requirements , "onpurpose " productio no f TE C i s required . Th e relativel y hig hpercentag e o f produc t move d throughdomesti c distributor s an d exporter s tend s t o kee p the overal l averag e sale s valu e considerabl y below the publishe d lis t price . I t i s antici pate d tha t lis t price s wil l declin e an d stabiliz e a t abou t 4 5 cent s pa r pound afte r 1989 . AVERAG E PRIC E RANGE - TRIETHYLEN E GLYCO L - TECHNICA L GRAD E Cent s Pe r Poun d °

Bul k = FO B Producin g Poin t - Suye r Absorb s Freigh t 196 0 196 5 Trad e Lis t 18. 5 15 3 Avg . Sale s 1 6 1 7

SUPPL YAN D 8EHAND....Million s o f Pounds....Estimated....Domesti c U S 198 8 198 9 

## ~F5~ 

## IT 60(E )

Capacit y Productio n Export s Deman d 3 7 5 1 8 9 197 5 198 0

8 8 12 3 10(E ) 1 4 7 8 10 9 198 5

"T9 0 15 0 1 1 13 9 198 6 

### "15 0 10 7 7 10 0 198 7

19 0 11 8 1 6 10 2 198 8

19 3 125(E ) 1 6 10 9 10 0 198 9 199 0

10 0 199 2

10 0 Prio r t o 1978 , export s o f TE G wer e combine d wit hDEG . Import s ar e no t separatel y reported . AVAILABILITY....Wit hprojecte d lon g ter m overcapacit y

fo r mon o E

G an d exces s suppl y

o f byproduc t DEG , TE G shoul d b e readil y

availabl e a s producer s attemp t t o upgrad e th e produc t lin e and improv e profitability . TE Gi s a nimportan t par t o f th e supplier' s produc t line , tie d inwit hthe productio nand marketin g o f polyethylen e glycols . Producer s thus.hav e the incentiv e t o kee p the marke t adequatel y supplied . A s producer s mad e increasin g quantitie s o f industria l and/o r fibe r grade s o f monoethylen e glycol , somewha t mor e TE G becam e available . Bot hDEG an d TE G er e strippe d fro

m th a produc t stream

t o mak e highe r purit y grade s o f mon o EC . A s a nexample , BAS F cam e o nstrea m wit hit s byproduc t glyco l recovery uni t i n 1987 . Producer s tha t mak e mor e on-purpos e diethylen e glyco l hav e a highe r outpu t o f triethylen e glycol . Conuersely , whe nproductio no f tetraethylen e glyco l i s maximized , TE G yiel d i s reduced . 4/8 7P. 3P. 4

rt-t i <Ll

y i ltv£

- KHLi-H N LUKK

. KIH J N L

_PRODUCERS AN D CAPACITIE S - TRIETHYLEN E GLYCO L = MILLION S C F POUND

S - 198 8 K . J

PRODUCE R .nite dStates : BAS F Cai nChemica l Do nChemica l Hoechs t Celan e P D Glyco l Canada : 

### Do w Unio nCarbid e 

### s

e

Canad a LOCATIO N

Geismar , L

A Bayport , T

X Plaquemine , LA Clea r Lake , T

X Beaumont , T X

For t Sask. , Alta . Montreal , Que . CAPACIT Y 

### 8 25 3 0 10 7

5 2 PRODUCE R

Shel l Texac o Texa s Eastma n Unio nCarbid e TOTAL UNITE D STATES : Unio nCarbid e TOTA L CANADA : LOCATIO N

Geismar , L A Por t Neches , T

X Longview , T X Texa s City , T

X

Prentiss , Alta . CAPACIT Y



### 2 5 1 5 8 6 5 19 3 5 1 2

Base dontrad e estimates . Capacitie s ar e flexibl e an d includ e bot hbyproduc t an d o npurpos e productio nmad e b

y th e additio nreactio no f ethylen e oxid e o ndiethylen e glycol . The byproduc t capacit y fo r TE G depend s o

noperatin g rates . However , a nomina l I S o f tota l mon o E Gcapacit y i s generall y

considere da s TEG potentia l withou t resortin g t o o npurpos e production . Inactua l practice , base donEG operatin g rate s i nrecen t years , les s tha n1/ 2 o f U S actua l TE G deman dha s bee nsupplie da s byproduct . Th e balanc e ha s bee nmad e u p b y o npurpos e outpu t b

y severa l producers , includin g materia l obtaine db y non-glyco l producin g companie s ths t distil l mixe dglycols . A t Texa s City , TX , Unio nCarbide , wit ha nomina l refinin g capacit y o f 6 5 millio npounds , refine s triethylen e glyco l (an d tetraethylen e glycol ) fro m monoethylen e glyco l productio nunit s a t Taft , LA , Seadrift , TX , and Prentiss , Alberta . Carbid e force s productio no f TE G a t Toft , LA . Oli n ha s TEGcapacit y

a t Brandenburg , K

Ybut , wit honl y

the ethylen e oxid e uni t operatin g an d monoethylen e glyco l no t bein g produced , n o TE G i s available . Estimate dTE G capacitie s fo r Canadia nproducer s i s fo r byproduc t potentia l and doe s no t includ e "forced " productio no r an y refinin g capabilities . EN D USES....Triethylen e glyco l (TEG ) als o know na 3 Glyco l li s (hydrox y ethyl ) Ethe r an

d Triglycol , i s a membe r o f th e famil y

o f glycol s an

d triols . I t i s a clear , practicall y colorles s an

d odorless , hygroscopi c liquid , simila r i nman y propertie s t o the lowe r ethylen e glycols . I t i e solubl e inmate r bu t insolubl e i n benzene , toluen e an d gasoline . TE G differ s fro m E G an d DE G i nhavin g a highe r boilin g poin t an d lowe r volatility . However , diethylen e glyco l usuall y ha s a significan t economi c advantag e s o tha t TE G i s onl y use dwher e it s specifi c performanc e i s required . Th e majo r applicatio nfor TEG i s a s a dehydratin g agen t fo r natura l ga s durin g bot hproductio nan d transmission . I t i s als o use di nprocessin g ethylene , carbo n dioxide , an

d air . Althoug hconsumptio nha s decline dbecaus e o f changin g end us e patterns , TE G i s use ds s a humecten t fo r tobacc o product s an d cor k compounds . I t i s als o use di nsolven t extraction , sn d i n th e pro ductio no f unsaturate dpolyeste r resin s an d polyeste r polyol s fo r urethanes . I t als o serve s a o a n inter mediat e fo r the manufactur e o f polyglycols . TE G als o ha s us e a s a sterilizin g agen t i naeroso l ai r fresh ener s for bacteri a lade nair , a s a nemulsifyin g agent , and a s a solven t an d lubrican t i ntextil e dyein g an dprinting , whil e i t i s useda s a plasticize r humectan t i nit s ow nright , i t i s als o a ra w materia l for ester s fo r us e a s specialize dplasticizer s far viny l en d othe r resins . Plasticize r application s includ e th e us e o f triethylen e glyco l diacetat e a s a plasticize r fo r cellulos e acetat e cigarett e filte r tow . TEGi s use da s a solven t fo r cleanin g polyeste r fibe r an d polyeste r plasti c producin g plants . Th e cleanupo f PE T (polyethylen e terephthalate ; plant s i s probabl y the larges t singl e solven t outlet . Printin g in k manufacturer s includ e TEG i nformulation s a s a humectan t an d a s a solven t fo r steam se t printin g inks . Th e us e o f TE G a s a solven t fo r extractin g aromati c hydrocarbon s fro m mixe dhydrocarbon s i s n o longe r a significan t application . EN D US E PATTERN - 198 8 ESTIMAT E

DERIVATIV E PERCEN T Natura l Ga s Dehydratio n5 3 Polyeste r Polyol s fo r Urethane s 1 5 Plasticize r Raw

Materia l 1 5 DERIVATIV E

. ' Solven t Humectan t Miscellaneou s PERCEN T 

## ~T3 — 5 1 0 MANUFACTURING....Ethylen e glyco l (EG ) i s produce db y th e hydratio no f ethylen e oxid e (EO ) wit hdiethylen e glyco l (DEG ) mad e b

y th e additio nreactio no f E O o nEG . Triethylen e glyco l (TEG ) result s fro m the reactio n e f E O o nDEC . Inth e hydratio ne f EO t o produc e EG , DEG an d TE G ar e concurrentl y produce db

y th e presenc e o f E O an d EG . I t i s generall y assume di nthe trad e tha t byproduc t DE C capabilit y i s abou t 8=105 ! an

d TEG 1 5 o f tota l hydratio ncapacity . However , th e rate s fo r DEG and TE G vary

widely . No t al l E

G producer s recove r specificatio ngrade s o f highe r glycols . Som e DE G an d TEG i s no t separate dbut i s include di nantifreez e o r industria l blends . Some highe r glycol s ar e refine db y independen t processors . I nth e hydratio no f ethylen e oxid e t o produc e ethylen e glycol , a nomina l I S o f tota l ethylen e glycol s outpu t i s potentiall y availabl e fo

r recover y

a s TEG . Wit hU S EG productio ni nthe rang e o f 5 billio n pound s annually , potentia l TE Gbyproduc t i s abou t 5 0 millio npounds , insufficien t t o satisf y tota l U S re quirement s (includin g exports ) o f abou t 12 0 millio npound s pe r year . Sem s producer s o f E G tha t recove r an

d refin e specificatio nTE G onl y recove r th

e quantit y

availabl e a s byproduct ; i.e . IS S o f E G output . Other s produc e "o npurpose " materia l b y reactin g E 0 and DEG . . Thos e producer s tha t ma y mak e onpurpos e DE G o r produc e polyethylen e glycol s ea nals o b e expecte dt o have mop e TEG available . ENVIRONMENTA L ASPECT S Triethylen e glyeol , lik e mon o E G an d DEG , i s stabl e endgenerall y non-corrosive . I t hs s a highflas hpoint . TEG ha s a muc hlowe r orde r o f toxicit y tha ndiethylen e glycol . I t ha s a ver y lo w acut e an

d chroni c toxicit y

b y ora l ingestion . However , contac t wit heyes , ski nan d mucou s membrane s shoul db e avoided . Overexposur e t o vapor' s i s unlikely . Low vapo r pressur e minimize s exposur e danger . N o permissibl e exposur e limit s hav e bee nestablishe dfo r TEC . Th e ACGI H 1988-198 9 publishe dlis t o f threshol d limi t value s doe 3 no t includ e TEG . Th e recommende dACGI H threshol dlimi t valu e fo r E G i s 5 0 pp

m (vapor) . To th e bes t o f ou

r knowledge , th e informatio ncontaine dherei ni s accurate . However , w e d o no t assum e an

y liabilit y

whatsoeve r fo

r th e completenes s o

r accurac y

o f thi s report .