HOUSTON, DECEMBER 9, 2004 \- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently removed ethylene glycol butyl ether (EGBE) from the Clean Air Act (CAA) list of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) and thus it is no longer subject to the CAA's Maximum Achievable Control Technology requirements, nor its residual risk and other requirements.

Lyondell Chemical Company's Equistar Chemicals business manufactures EGBE. With the de-listing, Lyondell expects to see increased usage in a variety of applications, including as a solvent in coating formulations.

"Emissions from this solvent will not count against a coating manufacturer or blender's total HAPs emissions," says Janet Miertschin, Marketing Manager, Lyondell. "This gives our customers increased flexibility to meet their HAPs emission requirements."

Other applications for EGBE include its use as a chemical intermediate in the manufacture of esters and as a coupling agent for metal cleaners, textile lubricants, cutting oils and liquid household products.

For further technical information on EGBE, contact Ralph Smith, Technical Service Manager, Lyondell, at 713-309-2623 or visit www.lyondell.com.

Lyondell Chemical Company, headquartered in Houston, Texas, is North America's third-largest independent, publicly traded chemical company. Lyondell is a major global manufacturer of basic chemicals and derivatives including ethylene, propylene, titanium dioxide, styrene, polyethylene, propylene oxide and acetyls. It also is a significant producer of gasoline blending components. The company has a 58.75 percent interest in LYONDELL-CITGO Refining LP, a refiner of heavy, high-sulfur crude oil. Lyondell is a global company operating on five continents and employs approximately 10,000 people worldwide. Equistar Chemicals is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lyondell.

CONTACT: Eric Stebel, Lyondell
713-309-3987
eric.stebel@lyondell.com
 

SOURCE: Lyondell Chemical Company

www.lyondell.com