Ascend reports upset at Texas acrylonitrile plant

Market: Petrochemicals
09/01/15

Ascend Performance Materials reported a waste heat boiler tripped at its acrylonitrile plant in Chocolate Bayou, Texas today, causing off-gas to vent to the atmosphere, according to a filing with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Acrylonitrile, propylene and hydrogen cyanide were released during the upset. The boiler was subsequently restarted and the off-gases were reintroduced to the boiler.

The Chocolate Bayou plant can produce a total of 1.029mn lb/yr of acrylonitrile. A similar incident occurred at the plant on 13 December.

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Ascend reports upset at Texas acrylonitrile plant

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