Alkali Manufacturers Association of India, (AMAI), an association dedicated to represent the interests of Chlor-Alkali, Soda Ash, and Chloro-Vinyl industry in India, is organizing a two-day conference-cum-exhibition on "Corrosion Challenges and Advancement in Corrosion Combating Materials" in Taj Skyline, Ahmedabad on March 14-15, 2024.

The inaugural session will be addressed by Ajay Virmani, President AMAI; Chief Guest Nivedita Shukla Verma, Secretary, Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Government of India (invited); and Aditya A. Shriram, Vice President, AMAI.

The Corrosion Management Practices and Technologies – Insights from Experts Session is moderated by P. N. Ojha, Executive Director, Kutch Chemical Industries Ltd. This session will witness presentations from Dr. S. R. Karade, Chief Scientist and Head ACSC Division, CSIR-CBRI, Roorkee on corrosion and remedial measures in steel reinforced concrete structures; Asset integrity management with respect to corrosion in Chlor-Alkali sector by Dr. Shishir Kumar Chakravorty, Independent Consultant (Plant Engineering); and Choosing the right armor: Materials of construction for corrosion resistance in Chlor-alkali facilities by Dr. Manishkumar D. Yadav, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai.

Session on Optimizing processes through advanced corrosion prevention measures is moderated by R. G. Krishnan, Joint President, and Head Sustainability, SHE, Technology Knowledge Development, Aditya Birla Chemicals Business. Presentation on internal corrosion & safety management in synthesis unit package will be presented by Anil Bhutada, Unit Head and President - Technical, Anticorrosion India Pvt. Ltd., Resistotech Group; Combating corrosion in hydrochloric acid synthesis unit by Yogesh Gujarathi, General Manager - Process Design & Export Marketing, Graphite India Ltd.; and From salt to membrane and anticorrosive engineering polymers by Hong Hanki, Chief Representative - ASEAN & Korea, JOC Technical Engineering Co. Ltd., China. 

The session on Industry Experience Sharing and Case Studies - Learnings for effectively mitigating corrosion risks is moderated by Nikhil Bhargava, Additional General Manager (ES, TS, S&E, F&S, ESG), Gujarat Alkalies & Chemicals Ltd., Vadodara. Recorded presentation on Dry Chlorine – Understand the Moisture Limits and Consequences by Ton Manders, Technical and Safety Director, Euro Chlor, Brussels. Case Study on Corrosion Management at Tata Chemicals Soda Ash Plant by Pranavgiri Aparnath, Manager-Maintenance, MCMG, Tata Chemicals Ltd., Mithapur; Sustainable Corrosion Resistant High-Performance Fluoropolymers – Case study and experience sharing by Raxit Mansinh Rodiya, Sr. Manager (Application Dev. and Marketing), Gujarat Fluorochemicals Ltd., Vadodara; and DCM Shriram Experience on Corrosion Challenges and Prevention Strategies by Rahul C. Patel, AGM - Mechanical, DCM Shriram Ltd., Jhagadia.

Advanced Corrosion Resistant Materials for Equipment and Piping Session is moderated by Devanand Jajoo, Vice Chairman AMAI Technical Sub-committee and Vice President, DMD, Reliance Industries Ltd. Presentation on Selection of Chemical Process Piping Materials for Alkali Industry will be by Vijay Rajpurohit, Managing Director, Chemical Process Piping Pvt. Ltd.; Corrosion Resistant Alloys for the Alkali Industry by Rohit Ojha, Lead Scientist and Technical Marketing Specialist for the Tube Division, Alleima India Pvt. Ltd.; Corrosion Protection by Epoxy Resins – Grasim Epoxy Experience Sharing by Diganta Khataniar, GM- Coating Formulation and Application, Grasim Epoxy Division; and Revolutionary Composite Products to fight Corrosion by Anupam Kapoor, Head Sales & Marketing, Polyplast Chemi-Plants (I) Pvt. Ltd.

Session on Protective Coatings, Surface Treatments and Linings to Prevent Corrosion is moderated by Vijay Vasudeva, Senior Vice President, Epigral Ltd. Presentation on Innovative STREMAX Coating for Heat Exchangers handling Corrosive Chemicals by Rajendra Khanolkar, Chemours India Ltd.; TEFLON PTFE Lined Pipes and Fittings with its proven performance credibility in corrosive chemicals by Mangesh Watane, Sales Manager – PTFE, MELTS & SPS, Chemours India Ltd.; Horizon Polymer: India’s largest and most preferred processor of Corrosion Resistant Piping & Valves – Roy Philip, Vice President Operations, Horizon Polymer Engineering Pvt. Ltd.; Glass Lined Equipment for corrosion protection in alkali industry by Sameep Deshpande, Senior Manager – Sales, GMM Pfaudler Ltd., Karamsad, Anand; and High Performance Coating Solution for Hazardous Chemical Industry by Abdul Nasir Bukhari NACE Certified Coating Inspector- Level III and Sr. Manager- Technical Services, Asian Paints PPG Pvt. Ltd., Vadodara, and Ram Duggirala, Specialist Construction Chemicals, Asian Paints PPG Pvt. Ltd., Gujarat.

Session on Progressive Corrosion Solutions for Water Systems and Instrumentation will be moderated by Dr. R. P. S. Chauhan, Sr. Vice President & Unit Head, DCM Shriram Ltd., Jhagadia. Session on Advanced Solutions for preventing corrosion in Cooling Water Systems will be presented by P. Balakrishnan, Associate Vice President - Business Development, Ion Exchange Ltd.; Descaling in Water Systems – Instant Solvent Softener without Chemicals by Dr. CH. Jagan Mohan Rao, Managing Director, Parahsakthy Power Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad; Innovation in Instrumentation to address Corrosive Environment by Dhananjay Deshmukh, Marketing and Project Pursuit, Emerson Automation Solutions, Pune.

The principal products manufactured by AMAI industry are Caustic Soda, Soda Ash, and PVC, and by-products are Chlorine and Hydrogen. The association actively interfaces with the government and other agencies at the centre and state levels. It also works closely with international professional bodies like World Chlorine Council, Euro Chlor, The Chlorine Institute, American Chemistry Council-Chlorine Division and is also represented in these organisations.