Polyester fiber worldwide capacity

Successful examples of selective oxidation catalysis in industry include the conversions of ethylene to ethylene oxide and of methanol to formaldehyde, both on silver catalysts. Ethylene oxide, with an annual worldwide production capacity over 11 million tons, is an important intermediate for the production of glycols (antifreeze agents), ethoxylates (additives in washing powder), cosmetics, polyester fibers, and pharmaceuticals. The partial oxidation of ethylene to ethylene oxide is carried out on silver metal particles supported on o -Al203 or SiC and promoted by alkaline earth or alkali metals. Trace amounts of ethylene dichloride are also fed continuously into the reactor to suppress deep oxidation. Selectivities of about 75-85% are typical nowadays for this process. Formaldehyde, with a production capacity of... 

The discovery of poly(ethylene terephthalate), PET, in the 1940s [1,2] and its commercialization initially by DuPont and by ICI in the 1950s created a large market demand for terephthalic acid and terephthalate esters of polymer purity. Because dimethyl terephthalate, DMT, is readily purified by distillation [3] (and also because the p-xylene oxidation/esteiification intermediate, methyl p-toluate, is more readily kept in solution than is p-toluic acid) the polyester fibers and films industry was initially based on terephthalate ester. With the development of improved oxidation and purification technologies, purified terephthalic acid, TPA, became available in commercial quantities by the mid 1960s. Over 75% of the worldwide PET manufacture (total world PET capacity is over six million tons/year) is currently based on TPA rather than DMT [4]. This preference for TPA results from the less complicated esterification catalysis and the absence of methanol handling when the acid is used directly. 

Terephthalic acid (TA) produced in a purified form (PTA) is used almost exclusively in the manufacture of polyethylene terephthalate (PET polyester) fibers. A smaller percentage of PTA is used for the manufacture of polyester films, polybutylene terephthalate resins and barrier resins for carbonated beverage bottles. Between 1994 and 1998, global PTA capacity increased by 62%, from lOmilfionto 17 million metric tons. Approximately 70% of worldwide PTA capacity is located in the Asia-Pacific region. ... 

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