Waste Incinerator Dust Filter Using Fortron® PPS Staple Fiber Gives Exceptional Longevity


Florence, Ky., September 4, 2007 - The fabric filter bags that comprise the heart of a flue-gas dust separator in a German waste incinerator have shown remarkable longevity. Most of the bags, which use a needlefelt fabric made of Fortron® polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), are still in use after 110 months even though their service life was warranted for 36 months. Fortron PPS is made by Fortron Industries LLC, a joint venture of Ticona Engineering Polymers and Kureha Corporation.

Laboratory testing of an original filter bag in the system found it has high filtration efficiency, shows little mechanical or chemical wear, and has a tensile strength within the average range for new filters. It also retains an effective surface for dust deposition throughout the bag's gas supply side, which keeps the clean-gas side virtually free of dust. The sustained performance of the filters is supported by the plant's operators, who confirm the collector's continued effectiveness in keeping dust emissions low.

The incinerator, which is in North Rhine-Westphalia and operated by AWL Leverkusen, has generated heat and power since 1970 from a grade of municipal and industrial waste similar to domestic waste. A new flue-gas-cleaning system containing 2,184 Fortron PPS-based filter bags came online in November 1996. The PPS needlefelt fabric for the bags has a polytetrafluoroethylene surface finish to limit dust adhesion. The filter is cleaned regularly by jet pulse.

The collector removes dust provided by dry injection. Flue gases normally reach the filter at 106°C, but may peak to 160°C briefly during start-up. The unit has a total filter area of 6,690 m² and is sized for a maximum gas volume of about 237,500 Nm³/h.

Fabrics made of Fortron PPS are often used to filter particulates from flue gases in waste incinerators, combined heat-and-power plants, cement kilns, chemical plants and other facilities. Fortron PPS meets the demands of these applications because of its great resistance to gases, acids, hydrolysis and dust at temperatures to 200°C (392°F), and inherent flame retardancy.

Fortron PPS is a high-performance polymer well suited to use in filaments, staple fibers and nonwovens because its linear structure provides superior performance in extrusion applications. Its mono- and multifilaments, staple fibers and nonwovens have continuous use temperatures to 200°C (392°C), inherent flame retardancy, excellent chemical and hydrolysis resistance and good processability. The many Fortron PPS grades available allow for applications in the automotive, chemical, papermaking, food and other industries.

For more information
For information on Fortron PPS for use in filter, fiber and other applications, contact: Ticona, 8040 Dixie Highway Florence, KY 41042, USA. Phone: 800-833-4882. Email: prodinfo@ticona.com. In Europe: Ticona GmbH, Professor-Staudinger-Straße, D-65451 Kelsterbach, Germany. Phone: +49-(0)180-584-2662 (DE) or +49-(0)693-051-6299 (EU). Email: infoservice@ticona.de. Or visit: www.ticona.com.

About Ticona and Celanese
Ticona, the engineering polymers business of Celanese Corporation, produces and markets a broad range of high performance products , and achieved net sales of $915 million in 2006. Ticona employs approximately 2,000 individuals at production, compounding and research facilities in the USA, Germany and Brazil. For more information, please visit www.ticona.com.

As a global leader in the chemicals industry, Celanese Corporation makes products essential to everyday living. Our products, found in consumer and industrial applications, are manufactured in North America, Europe and Asia. Net sales totaled $6.7 billion in 2006, with over 60% generated outside of North America. Known for operational excellence and execution of its business strategies, Celanese delivers value to customers around the globe with innovations and best-in-class technologies. Based in Dallas, Texas, the company employs approximately 8,900 employees worldwide. For more information on Celanese Corporation, please visit the company's website at www.celanese.com.

Fortron® is a registered trademark of Fortron Industries LLC.

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