Lotte Chemical, based in Seoul, South Korea, is one of the world’s largest chemical companies. It manufactures synthetic resins and other chemical products used in materials such as polystyrene, a versatile plastic commonly used in food packaging, appliances, toys and other goods.
To help ensure process integrity, safe transport and storage of the products it manufactures at its Daesan plant, Lotte Chemical was using a polymerization inhibitor (chemical compounds that help stabilize the manufacturing process) paired with DNBP, a chemistry that slows down chemical reactions.
DNBP is a highly toxic, hazardous chemical that produces nitrogen oxides (NOx) when incinerated, which contributes to air pollution. The use of DNBP has been restricted by many regulatory bodies, including the Ministry of Environment in Korea. As part of its efforts to create a better more sustainable future, Lotte Chemical wanted to replace DNBP with a safer, less toxic solution.
