AkzoNobel Functional Chemicals LLC

Acid Plant Database September 15, 2019

Owner	Nouryon Functional Chemicals LLC
Location	13440 Highway 43 North Axis, Alabama USA 36505
Background	Formerly AkzoNobel Functional Chemicals LLC www.akzonobel.com
Website	www.nouryon.com http://sulfurderivatives.nouryon.com
Plant	-
Coordinates*	30° 58' 8" N, 88 1' 17" E
Type of Plant	Sulphur Burning
Gas Source	Elemental Sulphur
Plant Capacity	850 STPD
SA/DA	-
Emissions	SO₂: 1.5 lbs/ton (100% basis) (365 day rolling average) SO₂: 2.5 lbs/ton (100% basis) (3-hour rolling average, except during start-up, shutdown and malfunction) Acid Mist: 0.15 lbs/ton (100% basis) SO₃: 0.2 lbs/ton (100% basis) Opacity: <10%
Status	Operating
Year Built	1957
Technology	-
Contractor	-
Remarks	Hydrogen peroxide tail gas scrubber - Approximate cost USD 8 million
Pictures
General	Permit Number: 503-5009-X016 Permit Description: Sulfuric Acid Plant with Hydrogen Peroxide Scrubber Issue Date: May 7, 2020
References	-
News	September 15, 2019 - An Alabama chemical plant has been emitting sulfur dioxide and sulfuric acid mist into the atmosphere, state and federal authorities say in court documents. A complaint recently filed in federal court accuses Nouryon Functional Chemicals of polluting the air from its sulfuric acid plant in the Axis community, north of Mobile. The company did a major modification of its sulfuric acid unit without obtaining the proper permits or installing required technology, among other things, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said in a statement. The EPA and the state are proposing a settlement with the company — part of a process that will include a 30-day public comment period. The EPA says the proposed consent decree would substantially reduce chemical emissions and improve the air quality in communities near the plant. The agency says the plant's sulfuric acid unit was constructed in 1956, and is one of the oldest areas of the facility.The company did a major modification on the unit without obtaining the proper permits before that project or using the best available technology to control emissions of sulfur dioxide and sulfuric acid mist, the EPA said. Sulfur dioxide can affect the respiratory system and lead to such health problems as emphysema and increased asthma symptoms. It is "a major precursor of acid rain, which has acidified soil, lakes and streams, damaged vegetation and accelerated corrosion of buildings and monuments," the EPA said in the statement. Sulfuric acid mist can cause irritation of the skin, eyes, nose and throat, and lungs. However, compliance measures proposed in the settlement agreement would reduce both types of emissions and improve the air quality for people in the area of the plant, the agency said. "It is important that facilities comply with Clean Air Act requirements to ensure that people in the surrounding communities are able to enjoy healthy air quality," Mary Walker, an EPA executive, said in the statement.The company did not immediately respond to calls and emails requesting comment. September 11, 2019 - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Alabama Department of Environmental Management and the U.S. Department of Justice announced a settlement agreement with Nouryon Functional Chemicals LLC f/k/a Akzo Nobel Functional Chemicals LLC (Nouryon Functional) to resolve allegations that the company violated the Clean Air Act (CAA) at its sulfuric acid plant located in Axis, Alabama.Pursuant to the settlement, Nouryon Functional will pay $300,000 in civil penalties and perform an environmental mitigation project valued at $150,000 that will reduce emissions in areas impacted by the Nouryon Functional facility. The cost of the associated compliance measures is approximately $9.2 million, of which Nouryon Functional has already spent approximately $8,000,000 to install a peroxide scrubber. Through installation of the peroxide scrubber and stringent emission limits, emissions reductions of 2,340 tons per year (tpy) in sulfur dioxide (SO2) and 40 tpy in sulfuric acid mist (SAM) are already being achieved at the facilityThe terms of the settlement, contained in the consent decree, are being lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama concurrently with a complaint, which alleges that Nouryon Functional violated CAA requirements known as the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD), Title V operating permits and the federally-enforceable Alabama State Implementation Plan (SIP)."It is important that facilities comply with Clean Air Act requirements to ensure that people in the surrounding communities are able to enjoy healthy air quality," said EPA Region 4 Administrator Mary S. Walker. “Today’s agreement demonstrates EPA’s dedication to working with our state and local partners to pursue violations of laws that are critical to protecting public health and bring companies into compliance.”Nouryon Functional’s facility is a chemical plant with six different process areas: sulfuric acid, crystex, carbon disulfide, sodium hydrosulfide, monochloroacetic acid, and the sulfur chlorides units. The sulfuric acid plant, one of the oldest process units at the facility, was originally constructed in 1956. EPA alleges that Nouryon Functional undertook a major modification, specifically, the replacement of an external superheater, without obtaining pre-construction permits or installing and operating the best available control technology for SO2 and SAM emissions as required by the PSD program and the SIP.The compliance measures resulting from the settlement will substantially reduce SO2 and SAM emissions and directly improve the air quality of the communities located nearby the facility in Axis, Alabama. Sulfur oxides, including SO2, can cause adverse respiratory effects, such as bronchoconstriction, emphysema and increased asthma symptoms. SO2 is a major precursor of acid rain, which has acidified soil, lakes and streams, damaged vegetation and accelerated corrosion of buildings and monuments. SAM emissions can cause irritation of the skin, eyes, nose and throat, and lungs.The proposed consent decree was lodged today in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama and is subject to a 30-day public comment period that will commence on the date that notice of the settlement is published in the Federal Register. A copy of the consent decree lodged today will be available on the Department of Justice website at: http://www.justice.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html October 12, 2018 - The former AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals is today being relaunched as Nouryon. The move follows the recent acquisition of the business by The Carlyle Group and GIC and marks the company’s transition to becoming an independent, global specialty chemicals leader. “Launching our new company is a significant milestone to add to our proud history and we are all looking forward to this exciting new chapter,” said new CEO Charles W. Shaver. “We are ready to leverage our experience, global presence, and strong company culture to unleash our full potential as an independent company,” he said. “We are starting from a great position,” Shaver added. “We have a great set of businesses, leadership positions across our portfolio, long-term customer partnerships, and a dedication to continuous improvement and innovation we can leverage for further success. As an independent company we can accelerate our progress on all fronts and take our rightful place alongside other industry leaders.” Nouryon has a history that stretches back nearly 400 years and its new name and brand identity reflect that heritage. Noury & Van der Lande was one of the first companies to realize the important role chemistry could play in everyday life; today, Nouryon is a world leader in essential chemistries used to manufacture everyday products. “When we started developing our new name and brand we asked our employees what mattered most to them,” explained Vivi Hollertt, Chief Communications Officer at Nouryon. “Our employees are especially proud of our heritage, as well our track record of growing through partnerships, innovation, sustainability, and contributing to society. We combined all of this to create a brand identity for Nouryon which is true to who we are and helps us stand out from our competitors.” Nouryon’s new company purpose - Your partner in essential chemistry for a sustainable future - reflects this pride as well as the focus going forward. The company’s success has been built on strong partnerships and it believes that collaboration is key to future success. Nouryon will be working closely with customers and other partners to innovate, make strategic investments, and develop essential, sustainable solutions that meet customer needs and fuel shared growth.

MTPD - Metric Tonne per Day STPD - Short Ton per Day
MTPA - Metric Tonne per Annum STPA - Short Ton per Annum
SA - Single Absorption
DA - Double Absorption

* Coordinates can be used to locate plant on Google Earth


Sulphuric Acid on the Web^TM	Technical Manual	DKL Engineering, Inc.