Shell restarts isopropyl alcohol plant in Singapore

Shell has restarted its 75,000 t/yr isopropyl alcohol (IPA) plant in Singapore. IPA is used to make hand sanitizers of which demand has surged with the Covid-19 pandemic.

The IPA plant at Shell's Pulau Bukom complex was restarted to meet the short-term increase in demand for sanitization and hygiene products because of the evolving Covid-19 situation, Shell said.

The plant was restarted sometime in May, according to market participants, which may have affected Shell's supplies of upstream propylene. IPA can be made from either propylene, a by-product from the operations of a naphtha cracker, or from acetone, a by-product from producing phenol.

By Kate Lee