On July 9, 2026, Air Liquide announced a 200 million USD investment to construct a high-efficiency Partial Oxidation (POX) unit in Bay City, Texas. Scheduled for completion in early 2029, the facility will produce large-scale syngas and low-carbon hydrogen. This output supports Oxea's expanding chemical manufacturing operations on the U.S. Gulf Coast.
The Partial Oxidation (POX) Unit and CO2 Recycling
The new plant design includes an innovative carbon dioxide (CO2) recycling loop. This system recirculates CO2 back into the reactor. Doing so optimizes the final syngas composition and improves the overall environmental efficiency of the chemical plant.
What process media is used in syngas and hydrogen production?
Syngas and low-carbon hydrogen production rely heavily on industrial gas separation media to purify the raw gas streams. The main components include:
- Molecular Sieves for Hydrogen Separation: Facilities utilize Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) units to isolate high-purity hydrogen. These units contain beds of molecular sieve (typically 5A grade) that selectively adsorb carbon monoxide, nitrogen, and unreacted methane based on molecular size and polarity.
- Tower Packing for CO2 Management: CO2 recycling loops require gas-liquid contact to separate and route the carbon dioxide. This separation happens inside amine absorber and stripper columns. These columns use high-performance tower packing to maximize the internal surface area, ensuring efficient mass transfer between the gas and the liquid solvent.
Equipment Implications for Gulf Coast Expansions
The Air Liquide project highlights a broader trend of petrochemical expansion in Texas. As these facilities scale up syngas and hydrogen output, the demand for physical separation equipment increases. Plant operators require reliable adsorbents and column internals that resist thermal degradation and maintain structural integrity under continuous pressure cycling.
Sources
- Air Liquide: Air Liquide to invest over 200M USD to support chemical manufacturing expansion in Texas
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Process Media Manufacturer Since 2010
Rongjian produces tower packing, molecular sieves, ceramic grinding media and other process media from our Pingxiang production base. We supply to industrial projects in over 100 countries.
