What is UniChlor™
Technology?
Small chlorine plants that produce sodium hypochlorite and other commodity chemicals downstream of the chlorine/caustic generation process are an attractive alternative to making bleach from chlorine and caustic purchased on the open market. These plants, which use salt and electricity to make chlorine, caustic soda, and hydrogen on-site, can be used primarily for the production of sodium hypochlorite, ferric chloride, calcium hypochlorite, hydrochloric acid, and other chlorine derivatives, or to produce feed stocks for a variety of other chemicals.
Alternatively, the plants can be used to supply a distribution system for hydrochloric acid and caustic. Since hydrogen is a by-product of these plants, the chlorine can be burned with the hydrogen to produce hydrochloric acid and the caustic can be evaporated.
This advanced production technology for Chlor-Alkali commodity chemicals is being marketed in the US as UniChlor™ Technology as a result of an agreement between Powell Fabrication & Manufacturing, Inc., and Uhdenora of Italy. Together, the two companies provide the complete chain of chlorine production facilities for plants of up to 150 to 200 tons per day of NaOH using Uhde BM-2.7 single element bipolar membrane electrolyzer technology and Powell's complete continuous process systems and components. |
Complete UniChlor Technology Process Flow
View a diagram illustrating the UniChlor Technology flow process. More...
Profitable Alternative to Purchasing Chlor-Alkali Chemicals
UniChlor™ Technology can provide significant economies that impact directly on the bottom line. The most obvious are discussed below:
Chlorine and Caustic are Produced for Half the Cost of Purchase
It costs from two to three times as much to purchase chlorine and caustic as it does to make the same amount of chlorine and caustic using UniChlorTM Technology. In the current market, the purchase price of an ECU could be as much as $800 to $1,000. In contrast, the variable costs to produce the same amount of chlorine and caustic with UniChlorTM Technology range from $250 to $325, depending on where in the US the plant is located.
Chlorine and Caustic Costs are Controlled
Since all production requirements of chlorine, caustic, and hydrochloric acid can be supplied with UniChlor™ Technology, long-term costs can be controlled. As a result of controlled costs, advantageous long-term customer contracts and competitive pricing can be negotiated and controlled.
Product is Higher Quality
The commodities produced by UniChlor™ Technology are of very high quality, since the best membrane cell technology available today is used in their production. Similarly, since chlorine and/or caustic are produced on-site, transportation costs are eliminated, along with contamination or degradation of the chemicals during transportation.
UniChlor™ Technology Enhances Site Security and Safety
The use of UniChlor™ Technology does not require that chemicals be stored on-site. The plants use salt and electricity to produce caustic soda and chlorine gas. Downstream, the chlorine gas - either wet or optionally dry - can be reacted in a chemical process to produce bleach, other chlorine derivatives, or chemical feed stocks. As a result, use of liquid chlorine and related storage issues are eliminated. Likewise, compliance requirements for EPA and OSHA regulations become irrelevant.
Who Can Use UniChlor Technology?
Optimal candidates for UniChlor™ Technology will meet one or more of the criteria below:
- Use chlorine and caustic in quantities above 50 tons equivalent of chlorine per day.
- Use significant amounts of chlorine and caustic in sodium hypochlorite production for internal consumption.
- Produce ferric chloride, calcium hypochlorite, or other chlorine derivatives.
- Produce feed stocks for the manufacture of other chemicals.
- Produce sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid for distribution.
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