Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions licenses its leading Acrylic Acid technology to Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited in India

Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions, the Engineering and Construction activity of the Air Liquide group, has been selected by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) to supply its leading Lurgi/Nippon Kayaku Ester Grade Acrylic Acid technology for their Propylene Derivatives Petrochemical Project (PDPP) located in Kochi, Kerala, India.

Acrylic acid and acrylates are mainly used for paints, coatings, adhesives and platicisers. The market demand for acrylic acid is driven by growing populations with increasing prosperity.

For BPCL’s Propylene Derivatives Petrochemical Project, Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions is providing the technology license, basic engineering, technical services as well as proprietary catalyst and equipment for the world-scale unit.

This contract with BPCL follows two successful implementations of this Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions technology, notably at one of the world’s largest single-train plants located in Huizhou, Guangdong Province, China. There, the facility utilizes chemical-grade propylene as feedstock to produce some 140,000 tons per year of ester-grade acrylic acid. The plant started operation in 2012 and stands out for its world-scale capacity, its high product quality and its operational reliability.

Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions is committed to moving forward and takes a relentless approach to innovation, in line with Air Liquide group’s mission to create value over the long term by delivering high-quality solutions to customers.

Domenico D’Elia, Vice President and Chairman, Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions, commented: “This petrochemical project in India is the very first such endeavor to integrate acrylic acid technology to supply local demand. We are pleased to contribute to the development of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) by supplying our leading Lurgi/Nippon Kayaku Ester-grade Acrylic Acid technology.”