Ariha to use Invista's technology to recover chemicals from PTA plant's waste

The Navi Mumbai-based Ariha Chemicals Pvt Ltd has recently signed an agreement with Swiss firm Invista Technologies to use its R2R technology for Ariha’s new project dedicated to the recovery of valuable chemicals from the residues generated by purified terephthalic acid (PTA) plants. PTA is a basic raw material for polyester and it is also used in the making polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film, which are extensively used in beverage packaging. PTA is also used in making cyclohexanedimethanol, terephthaloyl chloride, copolyester-ether elastomers, plasticisers and liquid crystal polymers.
 
The project, which will be installed at Taloja, Maharashtra, will have an initial design capacity of 35,000 metric tonnes per year and will be the first stand-alone R2R facility licensed by Invista. Ariha Chemicals’ new plant is scheduled to be operational by the end of 2014.
 
Ariha Chemicals aims to become a leading player in the residue recovery business with plants at multiple locations utilising the extensive experience of its founding partners coupled with ongoing R&D and latest available technology. In phase 1, Ariha plans to recover chemicals such as benzoic acid, terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid and catalyst metals from the residues.
 
Kumar Dharwadkar, Director, Ariha Chemicals, said, “Ariha is excited to be embarking on this new venture that could benefit its environmental and variable cost performance by using the R2R Technology from Invista.”
 
Mike Pickens, General Manager for Invista’s technology and licensing group - Invista Performance Technologies - said, “Invista is pleased to have been chosen by Ariha for its project, which will focus on recovering benzoic acid and other materials from a residue waste stream.”