Aker Kvaerner wins contract for pure terephthalic acid plants

Aker Kvaerner has been awarded a contract to provide the engineering, procurement and technical advisory support for two new pure terephthalic acid (PTA) plants in the Far East. PTA is used globally as a key ingredient in the manufacture of polyester fibres, resins and films.

The contract, valued between USD170-180 million, will be led from Aker Kvaerner's Solent office in the United Kingdom. The scope of work comprises basic engineering, the supply of offshore equipment and materials, together with technical advisory services, for two 530 ktpa (thousand tonnes per annum) PTA plants. The project will utilise INVISTA's (formerly DuPont's) advanced and proven PTA technology.

PTA is a fine white, free-flowing powder produced by a two-stage process in which paraxylene is initially oxidized in the presence of air and a catalyst/acetic acid to produce a crude intermediate. This, in turn, is purified using hydrogen reduction to yield the final product, which is well above 99.9 percent pure. Whether used alone in polyester fibres or in blends with natural and other synthetic fibres, PTA helps to provide an easy care fabric. PTA is also used in polyester bottles and also films, which have a wide variety of uses including photographic film, and audio, video and data storage tapes.

Added to site on 23/10/03

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