Clariant’s ENVICAT N2O-S Proven Effective in Removing Harmful N2O from Chemical Plants

Clariant has announced a new development in controlling harmful nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. Nitrous oxide emissions are harmful in two ways: they exacerbate the greenhouse effect and damage the ozone layer. At present, nitrous oxide is destroying the ozone layer more aggressively than any other substance. The new ENVICAT N2O-S has been proven particularly effective in the decomposition of N2O in secondary nitric acid installations or high N2O containing gas streams such as from adipic acid production.

Clariant has long offered catalysts to control the emission of N2O. Typically, there are two ways for reducing the emission of NO: Secondary and Tertiary. The most effective and efficient means for reducing N2O is with Tertiary abatement, such as with the ENVICAT N2O series of catalysts. This is the ideal solution for large nitric acid (NA) producing plants or installations that operate under the Joint Implementation Supervisory Committee (JISC) with Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM). However, with the latest ENVICAT N2O-S offering, a drop-in solution is available for plants designed to remove these harmful gases in the Secondary stage of chemical production.

As legislators around the world continue to tighten regulations on emissions, which differs between regions, amounts of N2O in waste gas from industrial plants is strictly limited. With the inclusion of ENVICAT N2O-S in a nitric acid facility, for example, N2O emissions can be mitigated with a conversion rate greater than 90% of the harmful emissions.

Stefan Heuser, Senior Vice President & General Manager BU Catalysts, stated, “With the ENVICAT N2O series, climate damaging emissions are thus already being reduced on a scale equivalent to 12 million metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. And, now with the ENVICAT N2O-S catalyst for secondary stage emissions control, we are in a position to only improve this number.”