Construction of the world's first sustainable isopropanol plant continues at the La Rábida Energy Park in Huelva. Cepsa is investing 75 million euros in this project with the aim of putting it into operation this year. It will be the first factory in the world to produce isopropyl alcohol, or isopropanol, from renewable or circular materials.

The replacement of fossil raw materials  by others from sustainable sources gives a boost to the company’s chemical section in its commitment to developing more sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions. The plant will in addition be integrated into the Andalusian Green Hydrogen Valley, a project located in the La Rábida Energy Park itself that will supply sustainable fuel to the facilities it contains. The rest of the energy used will also come from renewable sources.

International demand
The isopropanol produced at the new plant has disinfectant properties and is in demand on international markets. It has uses in the medical and pharmaceutical industries, e.g. as a base for hydroalcoholic gels, and is also commonly used in cleaning products, electronics, cosmetics, paints and as a solvent.

As the CEO of Cepsa Química, José María Solana, explained at the presentation of the new plant, this product will strengthen the company's portfolio “by incorporating a new product of great value for society and for our strategy. This product can be offered to our customers from sustainable raw materials and opens the door for new applications.”

Recovery of non-recyclable plastics
As part of its R&D activities, Cepsa announced the success of a trial at the end of last year in which waste plastic had been processed at the same energy park in Huelva. The company recycled 300 tonnes of non-recyclable plastics from bags into plastic cutlery.

This is the first operation in Spain to co-process oil from the pyrolysis of recycled plastic. The raw material obtained was transformed into phenol and acetone, which can be used to manufacture products like wind turbines and solar panels.

As the Palos Chemical Plant Director Esther González explained, “This innovative plastic co-processing operation also opens up the possibility of supplying acetone of circular origin to Cepsa Química's new isopropanol plant project in Huelva”.

^{Photo: Cepsa}