Jacobs designs, builds new Huntsman iron sulfate plant at Italian complex

Jacobs Engineering Group recently completed Huntsman Pigments’ new €38 million iron sulfate plant at its titanium dioxide (TiO2) pigment manufacturing facility in Scarlino, Italy, the company said on Tuesday.

Jacobs worked closely with Huntsman to execute the project from its Milan, Italy office; providing engineering and design, procurement assistance, construction management and project management services for the project, which involved safely integrating the new facility into the existing operating plant.

Once commissioned, the new iron sulfate plant is expected to enable Huntsman to use a wider range of feedstock in its pigment production, reduce gypsum generation and convert spent acid from the manufacturing process into iron sulfate products for application in other markets.

“We are delighted to have worked alongside Huntsman to support this strategic project," said Jacobs vice president Edward Pagano. "We were able to leverage our global experience in complex chemical facilities, and our long working relationship with Huntsman gave us an integral understanding of their business drivers and operations.”

Commissioning of the new plant is now underway. It is expected to be fully operational in the fall of 2014.

“Our goal for the new plant is to improve efficiency, sustainability and cost effectiveness; making the whole site more competitive and sustainable," said Walter Musso, Huntsman’s site director at Scarlino.