Evonik and GACL initiate cooperation on multi-million project in India

The MoU is expected to mark the start of a close and lasting collaboration between Evonik and GACL, which intends to acquire a license from Evonik and Uhde to use the HPPO process to produce propylene oxide. Evonik will produce and supply the hydrogen peroxide required for the planned new propylene plant at an over-the-fence facility. Experts are predicting a sharp rise in global demand for propylene oxide in the coming years.

The model for this alliance in India is the world's first industrial-scale HPPO production facility, which has capacity 100,000 t/y. This plant was started up in 2008 by the Korean company SKC in Ulsan (Korea) and has operated continuously at maximum capacity since it came into service.

Traditionally, hydrogen peroxide has been supplied to the paper and pulp industry. Evonik is the world's second-largest producer of this environment-friendly bleaching and oxidation agent, with capacity of around 600,000 t/y at production facilities in Europe, North America, South America, New Zealand, Asia, South Africa and Indonesia. The HPPO process developed with Uhde is an innovative route for the production of propylene oxide from hydrogen peroxide.