INTERNATIONAL CLEANER PRODUCTION INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSE

CASE STUDY # 90

1.   Headline:  Process modifications that extend the use of
     raw materials in a chemical processing plant.

2.   Background:  See below.

3.   Cleaner Production Principle:Process modification.

4.   Description of Cleaner production Application:  USS
     Chemicals manufactures phenol from cumene and then uses
     the phenol to manufacture other organic chemicals.  USS
     has installed resin adsorption systems to control cumene
     emissions from the phenol manufacturing reducing cumene
     emissions by 80% and saving 715,000 lbs cumene/year.  In
     addition, they have also installed a surplus condenser on
     the open cumene vents to recover the cumene vapor and
     return the condensed cumene directly back to the process.
     They also added floating roofs to the tanks containing
     volatile chemicals to reduce air emissions.

     Material/Energy Balances and Substitutions

                              FEEDSTOCKS:           Cumene

                              WASTES:              Organic
                              chemical emissions.

                              MEDIUM:              Organic
                              chemicals

5.   Economics

                         MONTHS TO RECOVER: 2

6.   Advantages:

                              FEEDSTOCK REDUCTION:
                              $275,000/year

                              WASTE PRODUCTION:
                              1,115,000 lb/year cumene

                              IMPACT:              Reduce
                              virgin cumene requirements and
                              reduces cumene emissions.

7.   Constraints:  Information not provided.

8.   Contacts and Citation:

     "Proven Profit from Pollution Prevention," D. Huisingh, L.
     Martin, H. Hilger, N. Seldman,  The Institute for
     Self-Reliance 2425 18th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.,
     1985, case study 16, Page 70.

                                   Name and Location of
                                   Company:

     USS Chemicals,
     Haverhill, OH
     United States
     TEL: 1(614) 532-3420

9.   Keywords:  United States, USA, chemical, phenol, process
     modification, cumene, floating roof, resin, ISIC 2869.

10.  Reviewer's Comments:  This case study was originally
     abstracted for the United States Environmental Protection
     Agency's Pollution Prevention Information Clearinghouse.
     It underwent a UNEP IE funded technical review in 1994 for
     quality and completeness.  It was edited for the ICPIC
     diskette by UNEP IE in July 1995.

(DOCNO: UNEP01.52  306-001-A-023)