Chemicals from Coal Facility - Kingsport, TN
Posted by: 
vhasler
N 36° 31.294 W 082° 32.599
17S E 361821 N 4042908
Eastman Chemical Company's coal gasification plant can be seen across the Holston River. It was the first chemicals manufacturing facility to use coal, instead of petroleum, as its starting material.
Waymark Code: WM9GWK
Location: Tennessee, United States
Date Posted: 08/20/2010
Views: 3
The American Chemical Society designated the "Chemicals from Coal Facility" a National Historic Chemical Landmark in a ceremony at Kingsport, Tennessee, on November 6, 1995. The text of the commemorative plaque reads:
This plant was the first in the United States to use coal rather than petroleum as a raw material in the commercial production of acetyl chemicals – important building blocks in the synthesis of a wide range of consumer products, including plastics, textile fibers, and photographic film. The plant came on stream in 1983, following eight years of research and process development in coal gasification and related technology prompted by the oil embargoes of the 1970s. An expansion project in 1991 doubled the original capacity. By substituting locally available, high-sulfur coal, this process conserves the equivalent of 1.5 million barrels of oil per year previously required for the production of these high-volume chemicals.
It is amazing what the chemists, engineers, operators, and maintenance forces have done to run this facility since 1983. The improvements made to give it extraordinary reliability are astounding.
The actual facility is within the corporate fence, but this landmark plaque can be found on the river side of the former headquarters. The only access is from TN 93 (John B. Dennis Highway) just north of the bridge over the Holston River. Follow the river west by the plant parking until you see a tree shaded administrative building. The plaque is on the back side of the park surrounding the flag pole.
Note: Google Maps, thus all car GPSr systems, is wrong in that S. Eastman Road is not open for travel, but was closed with fences several years ago.