“Kommersant”: AO GC Titan offers new solutions for the development of the chemical production

The AO GC Titan offers new solutions for the development of the chemical production

Today's modern global trend is shifting to eco-saving technologies. Particularly, the chemical industry is switching to more environmentally friendly raw materials, modernizing its facilities, implementing new projects to minimize the environmental impact.

In recent years The AO GC Titan has managed to reduce harmful emissions to 4,000 tons per year at the AO “Omsky kauchuk” (the total amount of emissions in Omsk is about 350,000 tons per year) using the best available technologies and implementing a comprehensive environmental program. The enterprise's share of global emissions is less than 1.5%. This amount will decrease. New facilities will be established by using state-of-the-art equipment and technologies in order to decrease this amount even more. In 2021 another important greening stage at the AO “Omsky kauchuk” was completed.

Ecology is a priority

Impact on the atmosphere has been reduced by almost 20% over the past five years due to the implementation of eco-projects at the AO “Omsky kauchuk” .

For example – IPA production establishment.  In October the AO GC Titan was approved to launch cumene and isopropanol production. Design capacity of the IPA production is about 60 thousand tons per year, and 160 thousand tons of cumene. Thus, the AO GC Titan built the largest IPA production unit in Russia. Based on 2020 data, there are only four producers of isopropyl alcohol in our country. There are more than 120 such enterprises worldwide.

“Such a large-scale project for cumene production reconstruction is aimed at improving each production stage, including in terms of environmental protection,” Chairman of the Board of Directors of the AO GC Titan Mikhail Sutyaginsky commented. “The cumene production has become much more environmentally friendly: there are almost no technological wastes and 85% fewer air emissions.”
Minimal amount of waste is formed due to the new isopropanol production technology. The total environmental impact is also minimal - about 7.5 kg per year. The final product manufactured using a modern foreign technology is of high quality and with a minimum amount of additives. There is almost no smell during the production process.

The total amount of investment into the reconstruction project of cumene production is 2.1 bln rubbles. IPA production launch stage is 1.5 bln rubbles.

The focus is on isopropanol

The expert community was interested in the project even before its implementation.

"The project of IPA production has great prospects inside the country and will be able to significantly reduce the share of imports in consumption by the chemical, oil, woodworking, perfumery and medical industries," says Victor Ivanov, President of the Russian Chemists Union. "Besides, for the domestic chemical industry the project is interesting not only from the position of import substitution, but also as an illustrative story of using 100% Russian raw material base and as an initiative of high environmental responsibility, implemented already at the stage of design

The new isopropanol production was opened in a solemn atmosphere with participation of Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Denis Manturov and Governor of Omsk region Alexander Burkov.

“Thanks to the new capacities, the production of isopropyl alcohol in our country will increase by more than 2.5 times, to almost 100 thousand tons per year. This will significantly reduce the share of imports in this niche, and “Omsky kauchuk” will be able to cover more than half of the market. We have already signed an agreement with “Omsky kauchuk” relative to the program implementation of increasing competitiveness within the framework of the national project “International Cooperation and Export”, on the basis of the results of its implementation; the volume of isopropyl alcohol shipped for export in 2024 will amount to about 3 billion rubles. I would also like to note the environmental component of this project. The use of the most modern technologies and latest domestic equipment ensures almost complete absence of effluents and minimum impact on the environment,” said Denis Manturov.

Alexander Burkov emphasized that the project for the IPA production is important for the whole country, as it will allow reducing two times the dependence on imports.

“It is important that Omsk isopropanol will be of high quality and will be used in medicine, pharmaceuticals, in the production of antiseptics, which are so necessary during a pandemic,” the Regional Governor commented on the production start. “This project is also important for Omsk region - thanks to its implementation, our tax base increases by almost half a billion rubles and new jobs are created.”

An interesting fact is that about 70% of the project equipment is produced in Russia. Heat exchangers, columns, basins and some compressors are manufactured at the leading machine-building enterprises in Yekaterinburg, St. Petersburg, Penza, Saratov, Izhevsk and other cities. There are also Omsk companies among the enterprise’s partners, particularly suppliers of ventilation equipment. Steel equipment including gate valves, valves, taps, pipe parts, instrumentation, cabling and wiring products are also produced domestically

IPA is important

Isopropyl alcohol is a valuable product used in chemical, petrochemical, timber, perfumery and medical industries. It is also used in chemistry, oil extraction industry, as well as in paint-coating production, and in wood processing it is used as a multifunctional solvent. It is widely used in medicine, perfumery and cosmetics.

We should note that isopropanol antiseptic effect is stronger than ethanol antiseptic effect, and World Health Organization (WHO) has included this substance in antiseptic formulas. That is why isopropyl alcohol is in demand during the pandemic. Moreover, it is used in automotive chemicals production - in release of brake fluid, as an antifreeze component, in windshield washer fluid. Such efficient products are harmless for a human and do not damage automobile coating and parts.

Eco-auto chemicals are the future

It was possible to establish more environmentally friendly production of auto chemicals based on IPA. For example, the production of windshield washers was launched at Titan-SM, LLC. There are suppliers who cheat and use fake methanol – pure venom which is dangerous for people. Moreover, such raw materials are used to produce glass and mirror cleaners and other auto chemicals.

“There are honest manufacturers who produce windshield washers based on IPA, however, there are also law breakers who produce windshield washers made from methanol. Our main purpose is to provide safety for our customers. Although windshield washers based on IPA are more expensive, you should take care of your health,” General Director of Titan-SM, LLC Mikhail Maltsev said.

During the pandemic the company has managed to launch the production of antiseptics that are less aggressive on the skin.

 
There are plans for further development of production. In 2021 Federal State Independent Establishment "Russian Technological Development Fund" (Industrial Development Fund) and Microcredit Company Omsk Regional Fund for Microfinancing of Small and Medium Enterprises lent the Titan’s project 100 million rubles.

The AO Group of companies Titan plans to invest totally more than 370 million rubles in the establishment of a new production facility at the “Titan-SM”, LLC site. Mass production is planned to be started in 2022.

“Receiving the loan will make it possible to establish new production of automobile chemicals goods. It will be the first suchlike site in the region. Harmless auto chemicals of high-quality will appear on the Siberian and Far Eastern markets due to the site. The fact that Omsk region will get more than 120 new jobs is of particular importance,” Minister of Industry, Communications, Digital, Scientific and Technical Development of Omsk region Andrey Posazhennikov reported.

“Supported by the Industrial Development Fund we will launch a modern process line for the production of auto chemistry and auto cosmetics goods, which will operate using domestic raw materials – high-quality isopropyl alcohol. The project has high environmental specifications,” Mikhail Sutyaginsky, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the AO GC Titan said.

Ecological auto chemicals based on isopropyl alcohol will be supplied to the Siberian and Far Eastern Federal Districts under own AUTOEXPRESS and QUALIA trademarks.

Source: Kommersant, 21.12.2021

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