MORTON INTERNATIONAL

Morton International, Inc.Danvers, Mass. Petrohte Corp.St. Louis, Mo. 

The commercial polysulfldes are made from bis-chloroethylformal (formal) as shown later in equation 11. In some products trichloropropane is added as a branching agent. Table 1 shows typical properties of polysulfldes available from Morton International. These products were acquired from Thiokol Corp. in 1983. 

D. Wienckowski, personal communication, Morton International, Inc., Woodstock, HI., 1994. 

David Vietti Micheal Scherrer Morton International, Inc. 

Thiokol elastomers possess fairly low tensile and tear properties. However, they have exceUent resistance to both aHphatic and aromatic solvents at room temperature and slightly elevated temperatures. The Thiokol division of Morton International Corporation is the suppHer of polysulftde elastomers in the United States. It is estimated that 1360—1600 t are used aimually in the United States. The primary use of polysulftde is in seals, gaskets, roUs, and diaphragms where solvent resistance and low permeabiHty are useful. 

There are relatively few producers of boric acid esters ia the United States. Eight domestic producers of these compounds (28) are Anderson Development Co., Akzo America, Inc., E. I. du Pont de Nemours Co., Inc., Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc., The Gas Elux Co., Morton International, Callery Chemical Co., and U.S. Borax Chemical Corp. In addition, Rhone-Poulenc Chemicals, Manchester, UK, produces commercial quantities of selected boric acid esters. 

Methyl borate is beheved to be the boric acid ester produced in the largest quantity, approximately 8600 metric tons per year (28). Most methyl borate is produced by Morton International and used captively to manufacture sodium borohydride [16940-66-2]. Methyl borate production was studied in detail during the 1950s and 1960s when this compound was proposed as a key intermediate for production of high energy fuels. Methyl borate is sold as either the pure compound or as the methanol azeotrope that consists of approximately a 1 1 molar ratio of methanol to methyl borate. 

Sodium borohydride is manufactured by Morton International, Inc. Treatment of trimethyl borate with a metal hydride, eg, NaH, ia the absence of a solvent yields sodium hydrotrimethoxyborate [16940-17-3] Na[HB(OCH2)3], (eq. 50) which disproportionates ia the presence of solvents such as tetrahydrofuran at 60—70°C (eq. 51) (112). 

Sodium Tetrahydroborate, Na[BH ]. This air-stable white powder, commonly referred to as sodium borohydride, is the most widely commercialized boron hydride material. It is used in a variety of industrial processes including bleaching of paper pulp and clays, preparation and purification of organic chemicals and pharmaceuticals, textile dye reduction, recovery of valuable metals, wastewater treatment, and production of dithionite compounds. Sodium borohydride is produced in the United States by Morton International, Inc., the Alfa Division of Johnson Matthey, Inc., and Covan Limited, with Morton International supplying about 75% of market. More than six million pounds of this material suppHed as powder, pellets, and aqueous solution, were produced in 1990. 

Sodium tetrabydroborate [16940-66-2] NaBH, more commonly called sodium borobydride, is tbe most widely used commercial boron bydride. Tbe largest manufacturer is Morton International Specialty Chemicals Group, which has two plants in the United States and one in Europe (1). Oy Nokia Ab Chemicals (FN) (2) also produces commercial quantities. Smaller producers include Farbenfabrik Bayer A.G. and ChemetaH Gmbh in Germany (2). 

Sodium Borohjdride Digest, Morton International, Specialty Chemicals Group, Danvers, Mass., 1989. 

Diatom Skeietonema costatum) DMTC 96-h EC50 (growth rate) >9.8 >9.8 Morton International, Inc. (1996b)... 

Morton International, Inc. (1996a) Acute toxicity of monomethyl-tin trichloride to the marine alga, Skeletonema costatum. Study conducted by T.R. Wllbury Laboratories, Inc., Marblehead, MA,... 

Morton Salt, Morton International http //www.mortonsalt.com/... 

Three types of polymer are currently available from Morton International, the only manufacturer of this type of material. 

SRP [Sulfonation-Reduction-Peroxide] A pulp-bleaching process which combines reduction with sodium borohydride and oxidation with hydrogen peroxide. Developed by Atochem in 1991 and licensed to Morton International, Chicago. 

On April 8,1998, at 20 18, an explosion and fire occurred during the production of Automate Yellow 96 Dye at Morton International, Inc. Yellow 96 dye was produced by mixing and reacting two chemicals, ortho-nitrochlorobenzene (o-NCB) and 2-ethylhexylamine (2-EHA). The explosion and fire were the consequence of a runaway reaction, which overpressurized a 2000-gal capacity chemical reactor vessel and released flammable material that ignited. Nine employees were injured, including two seriously, and potentially hazardous materials were released into... 

Uncontrolled reactions have led to serious explosions, fires, and toxic emissions. The impacts may be severe in terms of death and injury to people, damage to physical property, and effects on the environment. In particular, incidents at Napp Technologies in 1995 and Morton International in 1998 raised concerns about reactive hazards to a national level. These and other incidents across the United States2 underscore the need to improve the management of reactive hazards. 

Investigation Report, Chemical Manufacturing Incident (9 Injured), Morton International, Inc., Paterson, NJ, April 8, 1998 (2000). Washington, DC U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, Report No. 1998-06-I-NJ. 

An incident on April 8, 1998, at Morton International, Inc., in Paterson, New Jersey, resulted in nine injuries. Residents in a 10- by 10-block area around the plant sheltered-in-place for up to 3 hours, and an estimated 10,000 gallons of contaminated water ran off into a nearby river (USCSB, 2000). 

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