Due to the introduction of a new product by Grupa Azoty ZAK S.A., a production installation for terephthalic acid with a capacity of 50,000 tons per year was built. Wakro Sp. z o.o. designed and delivered the unloading, storage, pneumatic conveying, and dosing systems for this product.
PTA (purified terephthalic acid) has wide industrial applications and is the primary raw material for the production of PET (polyethylene terephthalate), used in packaging and polyester fibers. It is also one of the key raw materials for the new non-phthalate plasticizer offered by Grupa Azoty ZAK S.A. A major challenge for the design team was to develop a continuous PTA dosing system for the esterification reactor under demanding process conditions—high temperature, organic chemical vapors, and vacuum inside the reactor. Additionally, terephthalic acid itself is an explosion-hazardous material, which is why it must be stored and conveyed in an inert gas atmosphere.
Project photos
