Clariant, a sustainability-focused specialty chemicals company, announced the successful performance of Clariant’s EnviCat N2O-S nitrous oxide abatement catalyst at Sichuan Lutianhua’s nitric acid plant.
The installation of the technology is expected to cut annual emissions by 275 kilotons of CO2 equivalent.
Sichuan Lutianhua, a major chemical producer based in Sichuan Province, China, was one of the winners of Clariant’s 2021-2022 global climate campaign, which provided a free catalyst load to nitric acid producers lacking N2O abatement solutions.
Significant Environmental Impact
Located in Sichuan Province, China, Sichuan Lutianhua’s 135 KTA nitric acid plant has been in operation since 2009.
Initially, the plant lacked an N2O removal system, a major environmental concern since N2O is nearly 300 times more potent than CO2 in contributing to climate change.
With the help of Clariant’s EnviCat N2O-S catalyst, the company is now successfully addressing these harmful emissions.
Partnership Focused on Decarbonization
Xaver Karsunke, Vice President of Clariant Specialty Catalysts, expressed pride in the collaboration with Sichuan Lutianhua.
He stated, “With China supporting crucial decarbonization efforts to combat climate change, we are proud to partner with Sichuan Lutianhua to reduce their carbon footprint. Clariant’s EnviCat solutions are empowering leading Chinese companies to efficiently cut emissions in hard-to-abate industrial sectors.”
Sichuan Lutianhua’s Commitment to Sustainability
Sun Guang, Assistant General Manager at Sichuan Lutianhua, emphasized the company’s dedication to sustainable practices.
Guang said, “Partnering with Clariant to install the EnviCat N2O-S catalyst is an important step towards achieving our emissions reduction goals,” he said. “We have already measured a significant decrease in N2O emissions from our nitric acid production. We look forward to continued positive results.”
The Role of Nitric Acid in Emissions
Nitric acid is a crucial component in the production of fertilizers. However, its manufacturing process emits N2O, which poses a major environmental challenge.
Worldwide, more than half of nitric acid producers do not remove N2O from their off-gases.
This contributes to nearly 100 million tons of CO2 equivalent emissions annually, based on the 66 million tons of nitric acid produced each year globally.
EnviCat N2O-S: A Practical Emissions Solution
Clariant’s EnviCat N2O-S catalyst series offers a practical solution to this global issue. The catalysts effectively remove up to 99% of N2O emissions through tertiary abatement and up to 95% via secondary abatement.
The EnviCat N2O-S is easy to implement. It can be installed in existing nitric acid plants without disrupting production processes. The EnviCat N2O catalysts have over 20 years of market success. They are currently used in more than 50 plants worldwide.
Clariant’s Global Climate Campaign
Clariant launched the Climate Campaign from November 2021 to March 2022. It aimed to provide nitric acid producers with an affordable and effective path to reduce emissions.
The press release announces that the committee selected several winners. They will receive a complimentary load of the EnviCat N2O-S catalyst. This will further advance global efforts to combat climate change.
