The Maleic Anhydride plant originally used Benzene but switched to N-butane in 2006 for environmental and financial reasons. The production process involves catalytic oxidation of N-butane, cooling the gas mixture to extract crude MA, washing in a scrubber column to form Maleic Acid, and distillation to remove impurities. Solid MA can be produced through pastillation. Total capacity is 9,600 tonnes.
The Maleic Anhydride plant was originally designed in 1979 to use Benzene as feed stock for Maleic Anhydride production.
In June 2006, MA Plant was revamped to use N-butane as feed stock due to environmental and financial reasons. Declared capacity in the first year was 9,600 tonnes of crude MA.
Maleic Anhydride is produced by catalytic oxidation of N-butane in the reactor. Produced gases mixture contain MA in gas phase. In further steps, Gas mixture is cooled down to around 60°C to take out liquefied crude MA. Remaining MA in gas stream is washed in the scrubber column by forming Maleic Acid. Maleic acid is dehydrated to form crude Maleic anhydride. Total quantity of Crude MA is then distillated to remove residual impurities.
Produced liquid MA is stored at temperature above 60°C, or processed further on Pastillation section to produce solid MA.