18 Nov 2024

Clariant EnviCat^™ N₂O-S catalyst to cut CO₂eq by 690,000 tons/year at Hengli’s nitric acid plant in China

Hengli was among the winners of Clariant’s Climate Campaign, who were offered a free load of EnviCat N₂O-S catalyst for nitrous oxide (N₂O) abatement
EnviCat N₂O-S is a well-established, drop-in solution that removes up to 95% of N₂O from the off-gas of nitric acid production plants
The catalyst was successfully installed at the customer’s nitric acid plant in June 2024, and is projected to reduce annual N₂O emissions by 690,000 tons of CO₂eq

MUNICH, November 18, 2024 - Clariant, a sustainability-focused specialty chemical company, today announced the successful installation of its EnviCat N₂O-S catalyst at the nitric acid plant of Hengli Petrochemical. EnviCat N₂O-S was installed as part of Clariant’s global Climate Campaign, which offered a free load of the N₂O removal catalyst to nitric acid producers with no abatement technology. One of the winners of the campaign is Hengli which operates a 300,000 metric ton per annum nitric acid plant in Dalian, China. With the successful installation of the catalyst in June 2024, the plant is projected to reduce its N₂O emissions by 690,000 tons of CO₂eq annually.

Xaver Karsunke, Vice President of Specialty Catalysts at Clariant, commented, "We are honored to support Hengli Petrochemical in their drive toward cleaner chemical production. Our catalysts not only help industry leaders like Hengli to significantly reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions, but also to do so in the most efficient and economical manner possible. Partnerships like this are crucial for accelerating China’s energy transition and meeting the country’s ambitious decarbonization goals.”

Aibo Zhu, Plant Manager at Hengli Petrochemical, stated, “As one of the world’s largest chemical companies, we are committed to sustainable and environmentally responsible operations across all our businesses. We are proud to partner with Clariant on this innovative N₂O abatement solution to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions at our large-scale nitric acid facility in Dalian.

Based in Dalian, China, Hengli Petrochemical Co., Ltd. is a major integrated petrochemicals producer. The company is part of the Hengli Group, an international conglomerate focused on oil refining, petrochemicals, advanced polyester materials, and textiles. The Hengli Group was ranked 81st in the 2024 Fortune Global 500 and operates the world's largest terephthalic acid plant.

Commonly known as laughing gas, nitric acid is essential for manufacturing fertilizers. However, its production emits N₂O, which is almost 300 times more harmful to the climate than CO₂. The problem is further compounded by the fact that more than half of nitric acid producers do not remove N₂O from their off gas. Based on 66 million tons of nitric acid produced annually around the world[1], N₂O emissions equal to more than 100 million tons of CO₂eq yearly[2].

The solution to this serious problem couldn’t be easier. With the EnviCat N₂O catalyst series, N₂O and other nitrogen oxides can be removed almost completely (up to 99% for tertiary abatement and 95% for secondary abatement). Designed as a drop-in solution, the catalysts can be easily installed in any state-of-the-art nitric acid plant without disrupting the manufacturing process. EnviCat N₂O has been well-established in the market for more than 20 years, with over 50 successful installations globally.

Clariant’s goal with the global Climate Campaign was to show producers an economical path to emission reduction and inspire them to transition toward climate neutrality. From November 2021 to March 2022, several winners were selected to receive a complimentary load of the EnviCat N₂O-S catalyst.

Learn more about Clariant’s EnviCat N₂O-S catalyst for nitrous oxide abatement.
Discover our Clariant’s EnviCat emissions control catalysts solutions.

EnviCat^™ IS A TRADEMARK OF CLARIANT.

[1] IHS Market 2020
[2] Annual N₂O emissions from nitric and adipic acid production. Source: IPCC, 5th AR, Working Group III Report “Climate Change 2014”

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Notes for editors

www.clariant.com

Clariant is a focused specialty chemical company led by the overarching purpose of “Greater chemistry – between people and planet.” By connecting customer focus, innovation, and people the company creates solutions to foster sustainability in different industries. On 31 December 2023, Clariant totaled a staff number of 10 481 and recorded sales of CHF 4.377 billion in the fiscal year for its continuing businesses. Since January 2023, the Group conducts its business through the three Business Units Care Chemicals, Catalysts, and Adsorbents & Additives. Clariant is based in Switzerland.

www.clariant.com/catalysts

Building on a 165-year history, Clariant Catalysts is a global and independent manufacturer of energy-efficient catalyst technologies shaping a sustainable future for the chemical industry. We create greater chemistry – between people and planet – by helping to decarbonize our customers’ production processes and scaling up the transition toward zero-emission chemicals and fuels. Through our exceptional R&D and established expertise, our broad portfolio of catalysts and adsorbents provides innovative solutions that range from the oil and gas to the plastic sectors. With more than 2 000 employees at 31 locations, our high-performing teams collaborate with partners and customers across our global footprint.

The products described herein are for N₂O abatement use only. This media release may be accessible from various countries around the world and hence it may contain statements or product classifications not applicable to your country. Statements contained herein may not be applicable to products regulated by the US FDA or Health Canada.

This information corresponds to the present state of our knowledge and is intended as a general description of our products and their possible applications. Any user of this product is responsible for determining the suitability of Clariant´s products for its particular application.

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