Southern States

Acid Plant Database April 14, 2024

Owner	Southern States Chemical
Location	1580 Columbia Nitrogen Road Augusta, Georgia USA 30901
Background	Formerly - Peridot - Tennessee Chemical Company January 23, 2014 - General Chemical www.genchemcorp.com Acquired by Chemtrade 2022 - Idle plant purchased from Chemtrade by Southern States
Website	www.sschemical.com
Plant	-
Coordinates*	33° 26' 0" N, 81° 56' 10" W
Type of Plant	Sulphur Burning
Gas Source	Elemental Sulphur (Molten)
Plant Capacity	H₂SO₄/Oleum: 850 STPD, 50 ton/h (permitted), 438,000 ton/a Alum Plant: 270 STPD Sodium Bisulfite: 5445 lb/h, 23,850 ton/a
SA/DA	3/1 DA
Emissions	SO₂: 2.6 lb/ton (3h average) Acid Mist: 0.08 lb/ton
Status	Shutdown November 2016 Plant idle for 6 years May 2022 - Renovations to plant started November 2023 - Plant restarted
Year Built	-
Technology	Monsanto (MECS)
Contractor	-
Remarks	Convert existing 4 (3x1) catalyst bed 850 STPD double absorption sulfuric acid plant to 3 catalyst bed single absorption arrangement with the existing third catalyst bed and Oleum-interstage absorption system, and existing fourth catalyst bed and final absorption system operating in parallel. Modified existing sulfuric acid plant to increase capacity to 1,200 STPD (100% basis) sulfuric acid and Oleum, and add sodium bisulfite system to produce 23,850 STPY of sodium bisulfite solution. Acid products include 93.19% and 98.5%, sulfuric acid, 24% Oleum, and 38% total reducing agents (TRA) sodium bisulfite solution. Tail gas from acid plant is scrubbed with soda ash to produce concentrated sodium bisulfite solution for sales and maintain stack gas emissions within allowable levels. Ten days storage for soda ash and sodium bisulfite with loading and unloading systems.
Permits	Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division, Air Protection Branch Facility ID: 04-13-245-00008 Title V Permit
	Permit No.	Issue Date	Expiry Date	Date Modified
	2819-245-0008-V-01-0	January 8, 2001	-	-
	2819-245-0008-V-01-1	October 29, 2003	-	-
	2819-245-0008-V-02-0	January 8, 2001	-	Februrary 24, 2004
	2819-245-0008-V-03-0	June 6, 2006	-	-
Pictures
General	-
References	-
News	April 26, 2022 - Southern States Chemical is pleased to announce the acquisition of an idled sulphuric acid plant in Augusta, Ga. from Chemtrade Logistics. The industrial plant, which is located at 1580 Columbia Nitrogen Dr., will be renovated and reopen as a Southern States Chemical domestic production facility, bringing 30 new jobs and significant investment to the region. “In order to provide better security of supply, we decided to open a plant in Augusta, which is strategically located near many of our existing customers,” said Key Compton, the president of Southern States Chemical. “In addition, this site offers an inland production location that will continue to operate in the event of weather disruptions at our coastal production sites.” Southern States Chemical is returning to its roots in Augusta, where the company was originally established in 1897 as Southern States Phosphate and Fertilizer Company. One of the company’s great honors involved donating soil amendments and fertilizer materials to support the construction of the course at Augusta National Golf Club in 1932. Southern States operated a production facility near the Savannah River in Augusta for many years and moved its offices to Savannah, Ga. in 1936. Today, Southern States Chemical maintains stellar safety and operational records at three plant locations in Savannah, Ga. and Wilmington, N.C. The company has earned the elite CSX Chemical Safety Excellence Award for five consecutive years and has a strong commitment to sustainability. “We’re delighted to welcome Southern States Chemical back to Augusta and appreciate the fact that the company is making an investment in the future of Richmond County,” said Steven Kendrick, Chairman of the Augusta Economic Development Authority. “We think Augusta, which is Georgia’s third largest city, is an ideal place for business and industry to locate, expand and grow.” The Southern States Chemical purchase will provide opportunities for other industrial companies to bring back high-wage jobs to the Augusta area. In addition, the company’s basic building block chemical plant will create excess steam, which can help future co-located industries reduce carbon emissions. “We look forward to opening our newest production facility in Augusta and to being a good neighbor,” said Stephen Dees, Vice President of Sales at Southern States Chemical. “As transportation and supply chain issues have become more challenging in recent months, we have consistently demonstrated our reliability to our customers, setting our company apart in a fast-changing industry. We are deeply honored to rejoin the business community in Augusta.” November 11, 2016 - A sulfuric acid production plant, Chemtrade, has announced it is closing. According to Brian Hemming with the Chemtrade, the customers supplied by the Augusta sulphuric acid plant ceased operations in early November and stopped production as well. The plant is expected to incur some costs in the fourth quarter to safely shut down the plant with hopes of re-purposing it in the future, Hemming said. January 23, 2014 - General Chemical was acquired by Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund a Canadian provider of industrial chemicals and services to customers in North America and around the world. The operations of General Chemical and Chemtrade will be integrated during early 2014 and an updated website reflecting the new Chemtrade will be launched. In the meantime the existing websites will be maintained. July 31, 2014 - Two ChemTrade employees are being treated for burns after being sprayed with sulfuric acid Thursday. Firefighters were called to the business on Columbia Nitrogen Road around 10 a.m. in reference to a spill, according to a fire department news release. First responders located two employees who had suffered burns. One employee suffered significant burns and the other less severe injuries. Both were taken to the James M. Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital for treatment. The sulfuric acid, which was contained within a dike system, had no environmental impact, officials said. (The Augusta Chronicle) October 29, 2009 - American Securities LLC, a New York-based private equity firm, today announces that it has completed its acquisition of GenTek, Inc., a Parsippany, New Jersey-based provider of specialty inorganic chemical products and valve actuation systems and components for automotive and heavy duty/commercial engines. Equity was provided by American Securities Partners V, L.P., a $2.3 billion private equity partnership. GenTek operates through two business segments: performance chemicals and valve actuation systems. The performance chemicals segment provides: (1) water treatment products, primarily used by municipalities, (2) various grades of sulfuric acid as well as sulfuric acid regeneration services for the refining and chemical industries, (3) ingredients used in prescription pharmaceuticals, nutritional supplements and veterinary health products, and (4) high purity/ultrapure electronic chemicals. The valve actuation segment provides performance-critical valve train components for a full range of gas and diesel engines. GenTek operates over 50 manufacturing facilities and technical centers and has approximately 1,100 employees. In commenting on the transaction, Matthew F. LeBaron, a managing director of American Securities, said, “We are delighted to have closed this investment and to begin our partnership with GenTek’s management team. GenTek's specialty chemicals business has a leading position in the markets it serves, and its automotive valve business is well-positioned to grow. We are looking forward to working with GenTek's management team to continue to build the business.” William E. Redmond, Jr., GenTek’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “We are pleased to have completed this transaction with American Securities and look forward to the next stage of GenTek’s development. We are excited to continue to grow and improve our company with American Securities’ support.”

MTPD - Metric Tonne per Day STPD - Short Ton per Day
MTPA - Metric Tonne per Annum STPA - Short Ton per Annum
SA - Single Absorption
DA - Double Absorption

* Coordinates can be used to locate plant on Google Earth


Sulphuric Acid on the Web^TM	Technical Manual	DKL Engineering, Inc.