Olin to shut diaphragm chloralkali capacity that serves Dow’s Freeport PO unit

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Olin plans to shut down its diaphragm-grade chloralkali capacity in Freeport, Texas, that provides feedstock to Dow’s propylene oxide (PO) unit, the US-based chloralkali producer said on Thursday.

Dow plans to shut down that PO unit at the end of 2025, and those plans prompted Olin to close the diaphragm-grade chloralkali capacity that serves the Dow facility.

Olin’s is restricting the shutdown to capacity that relies on asbestos-based technology. US regulators seek to end the use of asbestos in the chloralkali industry.

The amount of diaphragm-grade chloralkali capacity that Olin plans to shut down at Freeport amounts to 450,000 electrochemical units (ECUs), according to the company.

Olin already has shut down its diaphragm-grade chloralkali capacity in McIntosh, Alabama.

It plans to transition its chloralkali capacity in Plaquemine, Louisiana, to non-asbestos-based technology, the company said.

Chloralkali units produce caustic soda and chlorine.

Thumbnail shows salt, which is used to make caustic soda and chlorine. Image by Alessandra Sarti/imageBROKER/Shutterstock (