Sasol to build world’s first ethylene tetramerisation unit

Sasol announced plans to construct the world’s first commercial ethylene tetramerisation unit, capable of producing over 100,000 metric tons per year of combined 1-octene and 1-hexene, at its Lake Charles production site, in Louisiana, USA.

The unit will utilise Sasol’s proprietary technology to convert ethylene to 1-octene and 1-hexene. This unique process was developed in Sasol’s R&D laboratories in South Africa, and selectively produces alpha olefins required for the high growth polymer markets. Construction will commence in 2011, and the plant will reach beneficial operation in mid-2013.

With current production of over 350,000 metric tons per year, Sasol is a major producer of comonomer range alpha olefins. Andrй de Ruyter, Senior Group Executive Operations of Sasol, said: “The additional capacity to be built at Lake Charles will help Sasol’s global customer base achieve its long-term polymer and elastomer growth prospects, and the investment reflects our confidence in the competiveness of the US petrochemicals industry”.

“This tetramerisation unit at our Lake Charles complex is supporting our strategy to further beneficiate our ethylene produced at the site and is in line with our view to develop our integrated multi asset sites”, said Andrй de Ruyter.

1-octene and 1-hexene are used as comonomers in the manufacture of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE) and elastomers. The products impart special characteristics of elasticity and strength in plastic used in consumer products such as food packaging, bags, toys, automotive interiors, power cable coatings and more.