JLM will add 15 million pounds to its capacityby the end of this month on completion of an upgrade. Georgia Gulf added 100 million pounds of capacity to its Pasadenaplant in the second quarter. Sun will more than double annual capacity to over 1 billion pounds atPhiladelphia by early 1998. USES Virtually all cumene produced is oxidized to cumene hydroperoxide, which is then cleaved catalytically tophenol and acetone. A major industry shift to zeolite-based catalyst systems, to be completed in the next one to two years, isexpected to significantly lower production costs and improve product yield.
Phenol remains very strong,with prices advancing.
However, US cumene producers plan to addabout 1.6 billion pounds of new capacity by early 1998, while only incremental additions to phenol capacityhave been announced for the period. The result is likely to mean period ofovercapacity for cumene producers beginning in 1998, although the impact will be softened by continuedstrong growth projected for bisphenol-A, phenol's major end use. Return to this weeks profile Return to archives menu For questions or comments about ChemExpo contact ChemExpo's Editor.