General Chemical - Richmond

Acid Plant Database July 31, 2030

Owner	Chemtrade
Location	525 Castro Street Richmond, California USA 94801
Background	Formerly General Chemical www.genchemcorp.com January 23, 2014 - General Chemical Acquired by Chemtrade
Website	www.chemtradelogistics.com
Plant	-
Coordinates*	37° 56' 23" N, 122° 22' 41" W
Type of Plant	Acid Regeneration
Gas Source	Alkylation Spent Acid Elemental Sulphur
Plant Capacity	219,000 ton/a
SA/DA	-
Emissions	SO₂: 300 ppmv @ 12% O₂ Acid Mist: 0.15 g/kg (0.3 lb/ton)
Status	Operating
Year Built	-
Technology	-
Contractor	-
Remarks	Electronic Grade Sulphuric Acid Manufacturing Process: 15,000 MTPA - Integrated with main sulphuric acid plant. Produced from distillation of oleum - Facility was originally located at Baypoint facility and was relocated to Richmond plant to eliminate the transportation of oleum by truck between the two sites.
Permits	State of California, Bay Area Air Quality Management District www.baaqmd.gov Facility ID: A0023
	Permit No.	Issue Date	Expiry Date	Details
	A0023	September 14, 1998	July 1, 2002	-
Pictures
General	-
References	-
News	July 27, 2023 - A sulfuric acid manufacturing plant in Richmond was fined $1.15 million Thursday for violations connected to faulty emissions monitors, local air-quality officials said. Since at least 2014, Chemtrade underreported sulfur dioxide emissions after failing to properly calibrate, operate and maintain its continuous monitoring system, according to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. These measurements at the plant, located at 525 Castro St. next to the Chevron Refinery in the city’s western industrial hub, are crucial to determining compliance with emissions limits. While the air district’s audit did not find evidence that Chemtrade’s sulfur dioxide emissions exceeded its permitted limits, BAAQMD reported that the company’s monitoring system was unable to reliably monitor the extent of the plant’s emissions. Sulfur dioxide — a colorless, pungent gas used to produce fertilizers, explosives and petroleum catalysts — can have adverse impacts on the respiratory system, including wheezing, shortness of breath and chest tightness. When combined with water and air, the chemical forms the main component of acid rain. BAAQMD officials said Chemtrade’s reported emission rates are estimated to be an average of 33% lower since 2014. Agency staff have recommended that a portion of the $1.15 million fine go towards community efforts to improve air quality in Richmond. These problems were a long time coming; the agency’s Hearing Board had previously issued seven notices to the Richmond facility prior to Thursday’s announcement, including an abatement order in April 2022. Additionally, Chemtrade was fined $135,000 six years ago for air pollution violations from 2009 through 2014, including loading alkylation acid from storage tanks into trucks without permits — potentially fouling the air with sulfuric acid fumes. Chemtrade could not be reached for comment. While most of the problems occurred while the plant was owned by General Chemical West, Chemtrade–which acquired the plant in 2014–claimed in 2017 that all of the violations found during a voluntary audit were corrected. According to a Richmond Chamber of Commerce directory, Chemtrade is currently one of North America’s largest suppliers of sulfuric acid, liquid sulfur dioxide and sodium nitrite, as well as a leading regional supplier of sulfur, sodium chlorate, potassium chloride, and zinc oxide. Dr. Philip Fine, BAAQMD’s executive officer, said Thursday’s fine reflects the air district’s efforts to protect Bay Area residents’ health. “The substantial financial penalties for these violations send a clear message to Chemtrade that they must accurately monitor their sulfur dioxide emissions in compliance with all air quality regulations to help protect those living in the surrounding communities,” Fine said in a statement. On January 23, 2014, General Chemical was acquired by Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund (“Chemtrade”), 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. 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 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.” June 25, 1997 - General Chemical (GC) reported Friday that impurity levels continue to drop at its new ultra-high-purity sulphuric acid plant in Richmond, California.The plant, part of General Chemical's electronic chemicals group, began start-up production early last month. But its production quality is now approaching target levels, company officials told CNI. GC's electronic chemicals group manufactures process chemicals for semiconductor fabrication.Sulphuric acid produced by the Richmond plant will have cationic impurity specifications in the 100 to 400 parts-per-trillion (ppt) range, said company officials. The Richmond facility will produce 13.6 tonne per year of ultra-pure sulphuric acid, used in the manufacture of semiconductor devices. In operation, the new Richmond sulphuric acid facility uses a proprietary gas phase chemical process, reacting high-purity sulphur trioxide with ultra-pure water, producing Class 1 sulphuric acid. That product is filtered through submicron media.

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.