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Aksa (Turkish: Aksa Akrilik Kimya Sanayi A.Ş.) is a Turkish company manufacturing carbon fiber, natural white and solution dyed acrylic staple fiber, tow and tops for yarn spinning and nonwovens. Established in 1968 in Yalova, Turkey, the company is the world's largest producer[of what?] under one roof, with an annual production capacity of 308,000 tons.[1]
 | |
| Founded | 1968 in Yalova, Turkey |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | , |
| Revenue | US$840.68 million (2023) |
| US$92 million (2023) | |
| US$57 million (2023) | |
| Total assets | US$877 million (2023) |
| Total equity | US$587 million (2023) |
| Website | aksa.com |
Aksa is listed on the Istanbul Stock Exchange. Together with Dow Chemical, the DowAksa joint venture was established in 2012 to produce carbon fibers.[1] The company was given the Environment Award of 2005 by Istanbul Industrial Association (İSO). This was considered ironic by some because of the company's controversial past with a large environmental disaster.[2]
Greenhouse gas emissions
editIn 2022 scope 1 emissions were 1.2 million tonnes CO2eq, partly from generating 3.4 TWh of electricity by burning coal.[3]: 210
Controversies
edit1999 Acrylonitrile spill
editApproximately, 6500 tons of acrylonitrile leaked from an industrial polymer plant owned by Aksa Akrilik, due to pipes of storage units rupturing from the impact of the violent 17 August earthquake. Over 5000 people were affected, and the exposed animals had died.[4] The leak was only noticed by Aksa 8 hours after the incident. Healthcare workers did not know about the health effects of acrylonitrile and tried to treat the victims with painkillers and IV fluids.[5] One lawyer, Ayşe Akdemir, sued the company with 44 families as the plaintiffs.[5] Aksa Akrilik was sued by 200 residents who were affected by acrylonitrile.[2] As of 2001, this is the largest acrylonitrile leak known.[4]
Aftermath
editAcrylamide, a decomposition production of acrylonitrile, was detected in the seawater, months after the disaster.[6] The catalyst 2,2'-Azobis(2-methylpropionitrile), with the solvents dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide, dimethylsulfoxide and dimethylsulphone were detected in the sea waters of the affected area. Chloroform of unknown origin was also detected. Some of these compounds are toxic to the aquatic life.[7]
In 2003, Selçuk Ergin, the manager of Aksa Akrilik at the time of the incident, has died from lung cancer related to acrylonitrile exposure.[5] An increase in cancer cases in the area was confirmed by the Turkish Medical Association,[2] as the cancer rate in the affected area has increased by 80%, from 1999 to April 2002.[5]
2013 Fire
editIn January 2013, a polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibre storage set on fire. The fire was not responded quickly and the toxic fumes spread. The combustion products included hydrogen cyanide.[8][9] No deaths or injuries were reported.
See also
editExternal links
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Company website
- ^ a b c "İSO'nun şaşırtan çevre ödülü Aksa'nın". Hürriyet. 26 June 2005.
- ^ "Integrated and Annual Reports - INVESTOR RELATIONS - Financial Statements and Reports - Integrated and Annual Reports - AKSA". www.aksa.com. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
- ^ a b Nadi Bakırcı (2001). "ENDÜSTRİYEL BİR ÇEVRE FELAKETİ: AKRİLONİTRİL" [AN INDUSTRIAL ENVIRONMENT DISASTER: ACRYLONITRILE]. Turkish Medical Association.
- ^ a b c d Fatma Dalokay (30 November 2020). "17 Ağustos 1999 Depremi: Akrilonitril Zehirlenmesi" [17 August 1999 Earthquake: Acrylonitrile Poisoning]. Tabella.
- ^ Determination of Acrylonitrile and Detection of Acrylamide in Seawater by GC/MS, Kasım Cemal Güven, Tuncay Gezgin, in Acta Pharmaceutica Turcica (2005)
- ^ The Pollution of 2,2' Azobis (2 methyl propion nitrile), Chloroform and Solvent Used Acrylonitrile Polymer Synthesis in Sea Water of Yalova, İzmit Bay, Sea of Marmara, Kasım C. Güven, Tuncay Gezgin, in Acta Pharmaceutica Turcica (2005)
- ^ "AKSA Akrilik Kimya Sanayi A.Ş. de Çıkan Yangının Nihai Raporu Tamamlandı". Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change.
- ^ Gözdereli̇ler, Süheyla (27 January 2013). "Aksa Fabrikası'nda yangın!".