By Tim Sullivan
 
Colonial Chemical Inc. last week announced a 10,000-square-foot expansion to its specialty chemical plant in South Pittsburg, Tenn. The company said the project increases its capacity to make specialty surfactants, as well as new chemistries it is pursuing.
 
Colonial did not disclose the cost of the project, which included installation of three high-pressure reactors, each with 3,000 gallons of capacity. The company makes naturally derived surfactants, traditional alkyl sulfates, amphoterics and specialty low-foam nonionics.
 
Formed in 1987, Colonial opened the South Pittsburg plant in 1996 and doubled its size with an expansion that swelled the facility to 50,000 square feet in 1998.