Evonik Adds H₂O₂ In South Korea

Evonik Industries and partner Headwaters have increased capacity for hydrogen peroxide at their joint-venture plant in Ulsan, South Korea, acquired from Kemira in 2006. The expansion more than doubles the plant's capacity of 34,000 metric tons per year. H₂O₂ will be supplied to customers in South Korea and to an adjacent plant operated by the Seoul-based company SKC. In the next few months, SKC will start up one of the world's first facilities for propylene oxide based on the HPPO process, which uses H₂O₂ and propylene as starting materials. SKC licensed the process from Evonik and the engineering company Uhde. Evonik and Headwaters are working on a new direct synthesis route to H₂O₂.