The Acrylonitrile Plant of CPDC--a new force in development of synthetic fibers industry

A major contribution to the Republic of China's efforts to become self-sufficient in supplies for synthetic fiber raw materials, was made with the opening of the China Petrochemical Development Corp. (CPDC) plant to produce raw materials for acrylic fiber. The US$90 million complex was completed in two stages in February 1976 and December 1977. Located in the Tasheh petrochemical zone near Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan, the plant adopted the patent method of the Standard Oil Co. of Ohio to produce acrylonitrile monomers by the ammoxidation method of mixing ammonia, propylene, and air in a fluidized catalyst reactor. Facilities at the plant include fluidized reactor and towers for quenching, stripping, recovery, absorption, dehydrogencyanide treatment and production. Acrylonitrile monomers are used in the production of ABS (the polymer of acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene) and SAN (the polymer of styrene and acrylonitrile) plastics. With its qualities of lightness, softness, natural appearance and low price, acrylic fiber is suitable for making yarns, woolen type clothing, knitwear, rugs and blankets. A byproduct of the acrylonitrile manufacturing process, hydrogen cyanide, is an essential raw material for producing polymethyl-methacrylate and sodium cyanide. Production at the plant has been boosted to the point where Taiwan is self-sufficient in acrylic materials. This has meant an annual saving of US$40 million in foreign exchange and increased competitiveness for Taiwan manufacture by lowering production costs. The acrylonitrile industry was established in Taiwan under the principle of "backward integration" which means starting a downstream industry first, and then establishing more advanced upstream plant with the goal of achieving all-round industrial development. The three main sectors of the acrylonitrile industry- -woolen-type clothing. acrylic fibers and a acrylonitrile monomer- -have all followed this pattern. Policy for the development of the petrochemical industry in Taiwan is designed to benefit the vinyl chloride and styrene industries as well as the acrylonitrile industry. This sound planning has enabled Taiwan to rank second behind Japan in Asia in this important field. The achievements of the CPDC have played an important role in bolstering the people's confidence and expectations in achieving the goal of advanced industrialization.