DOCSLIB.ORG

Trends and Views in the Development of Technologies for Chlorine Production from Hydrogen Chloride

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Trends and Views in the Development of Technologies for Chlorine Production from Hydrogen Chloride Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. Trends and Views in the Basic Chemicals Research Laboratory Development of Technologies for Hiroyuki ANDO Chlorine Production from Youhei UCHIDA Kohei SEKI Hydrogen Chloride Carlos KNAPP* Process & Production Technology Center Norihito OMOTO Masahiro KINOSHITA Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. has developed a catalytic process that is highly recognized and applied worldwide as a technology for recycling the hydrogen chloride generated as by-product in isocyanate plants into chlorine. In this article we outline the trends and views in the development of various technologies for chlorine production from hydrogen chloride, and present the recent advances in catalyst technology for the Sumitomo Chemical process. This paper is translated from R&D Report, “SUMITOMO KAGAKU”, vol. 2010-II. Introduction ever, the expansion in demand for vinyl chloride monomers is smaller than that for isocyanates, and in Chlorine (Cl2) is used as a starting material for prod- the future we can expect that the excess of HCl will in- ucts such as polyvinyl chloride monomers, isocyanates crease further. (such as TDI and MDI), epichlorohydrin and various In addition, Cl2, which is a starting material, is nor- fluorocarbons. However, for example in the case of mally produced by salt electrolysis, but since the expan- toluene diisocyanate (TDI), which is manufactured ac- sion of the demand for chlorine is greater than that of cording to the following formulas (1) and (2), 4 moles the demand for the caustic soda (NaOH) produced of hydrogen chloride (HCl) are produced as a byprod- along with it, there is a danger that the demand balance uct for each 1 mole of TDI. between Cl2 and NaOH will collapse. Under these circumstances, technology for convert- CO + Cl2 → COCl2 (1) ing the HCl produced as a byproduct to Cl2 and reusing it not only helps in effective use of excess HCl, but is CH3C6H3(NH2)2 + 2COCl2 also helpful to balance the salt electrolysis. Since, in (2) → CH3C6H3(NCO)2 + 4HCl turn, this leads to conservation of resources and en- ergy, it has been studied for 100 years. Approximately half of the 42 million tons of Cl2 pro- In this article, we report on trends in the processes duced annually is estimated to end up as HCl by-prod- for producing chlorine from HCl and also introduce uct generated in the way described above, or as various new, improved technology for the Sumitomo Chemical other chlorides.1) HCl oxidation process which has been licensed to sev- Normally, the HCl produced as a byproduct is di- eral companies in Japan and overseas. rectly sold as 35% aqueous hydrochloric acid or used as the starting material for oxychlorination of vinyl chlo- Method for Producing Chlorine from HCl and ride monomers, while surplus amounts are disposed of Its Features using methods such as neutralization treatments. How- Methods for producing Cl2 from HCl are roughly di- vided in three; electrolysis processes, oxidizing agent * Present post : Organic Synthesis Research Laboratory recirculation processes, and catalytic oxidation. SUMITOMO KAGAKU 2010-II 1 Trends and Views in the Development of Technologies for Chlorine Production from Hydrogen Chloride 1. Electrolysis process for aqueous hydrochloric started operating a commercial plant capable of produc- acid ing 215,000 tons of chlorine per year at a TDI and MDI This method is called the Uhde process, and since its plant at the Shanghai Industrial Park in 2008. commercialization in the 1960s it is being operated in multiple plants throughout the world.2) The HCl start- 2. HCl gas electrolysis process ing material is absorbed in water, and after the forma- The DuPont process makes use of a Nafion ion ex- tion of a 22% aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid, it is change membrane and is known as a HCl gas electroly- sent to the anode and cathode. Cl2 is obtained from the sis process.4) An ion exchange membrane covered with anode and H2 from the cathode. The conversion ratio a porous catalyst containing noble metals such as Pt for HCl is 20%, and the 17% aqueous hydrochloric acid and Ru is used for the electrolysis membrane, and HCl from the electrolyzer is recycled to the electrolysis gas supplied to the anode chamber is oxidized by the process after adjusting its concentration. The HCl and surface of the anode, producing chlorine gas. The gen- water present in the Cl2 gas generated at the anode are erated protons (H+) pass through an ion exchange separated, obtaining the Cl2 product. membrane, then reach the cathode to be reduced to H2. In terms of the trends in the development of this Dilute hydrochloric acid is supplied to the cathode to technology, Bayer, UhdeNora (joint venture between control the wetness and temperature of the membrane. Uhde and DeNora) and DeNora have jointly developed The HCl conversion ratio is 70 – 85%, but since the HCl a technology that can reduce power consumption by ap- is reacted as a gas, there is the advantage of the HCl ab- proximately 30% by using an oxygen depolarized cath- sorption process being unnecessary. After the Cl2 and ode (ODC), which in turn reduces the electrolysis HCl gases that are obtained are dried with sulfuric acid, 3) voltage. Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an elec- the Cl2, HCl and inert gases are separated and product trolysis vessel, and Fig. 2 presents a comparison of the Cl2 is obtained. The unreacted HCl is recycled to the electrolysis voltage with the conventional method. electrolysis process. Evaluations were carried out in After operating a 20,000 ton per year demonstration the 1990s using a demonstration plant, but there has plant at its Brunsbüttel plant in Germany in 2003, Bayer been no report of its industrialization. While technical improvements are being made to the aqueous hydrochloric acid and HCl gas electrolysis anode membrane cathode anode ODC Cl2 H2 Cl2 O2 processes described above, the large amount of electric power that is consumed is still a problem. 1/2O2 Cl2 H2 Cl2 – – + 2e– 2e 2e– 2e 2H+ – + – H+ 3. Oxidizing agent circulation methods 2Cl H+ 2H 2Cl H2O The Kel-Chlor process developed by Kellogg can be HCl HCl HCl H2O mentioned, having as its main features the use of nitro- Conventional Process Bayer DeNora Process with ODC gen oxides as the catalyst and sulfuric acid as the circu- Fig. 1 Comparison of HCl electrolysis lation medium.5) The elementary reactions are shown in equations (3)– (7), and the complete reaction is shown in equation (8). Potential [V] 1 2HCl + 2NOHSO4 → 2NOCl + 2H2SO4 (3) – – 1anode : 2Cl Cl2 + 2e +1.36 – 2NOCl → 2NO + Cl2 (4) 2cathode : 1/2O2 + 2H+ +2e H2O +1.23 (ODC) 2 2NO + O2 → 2NO2 (5) NO2 + 2HCl → NO+Cl2 + H2O (6) Δ ≈ 1volt NO + NO2 + 2H2SO4 → 2NOHSO4 + H2O (7) – 32H+ + 2e H2 0 3 4HCl + O2 → 2Cl2 + 2H2O (8) Current density Since the process is complicated and there is much Fig. 2 Electrode potentials in HCl electrolysis equipment that uses expensive materials, construction SUMITOMO KAGAKU 2010-II 2 Trends and Views in the Development of Technologies for Chlorine Production from Hydrogen Chloride costs are high; therefore, it is said to be suitable for reacting the unreacted HCl on the CuO at a relatively large-scale plants that can benefit from economy of low temperature of 180 to 200°C. Cl2 is obtained with scale. DuPont started operation of a 200,000 ton per about 100% yield by circulating the catalyst through year plant in 1974, but it is not operating at present. both fluidized beds. Among these catalytic oxidation methods, the MT- 4. Catalytic oxidation of HCl gas Chlor process, which was discovered in Japan, and the Since the discovery of the Deacon process6) using a Sumitomo Chemical process, which will be described CuCl2 catalyst in 1868, there have been many reports of in the following, are the processes that are currently improved catalysts and articles on processes for cat- being operated commercially. alytic oxidation. Reaction equation (9) shows the reac- tion for producing chlorine using catalytic oxidation, HCl, O2, Cl2, H2O with no side reactions. 1st Reactor 2nd Reactor Oxidizer Chlorinator 1 catalyst 2HCl + O2 Cl2 + H2O + 59kJ/mol (9) CuCl CuO 2 O2, Cl2, H2O Using a copper chloride-potassium chloride-rare 340–400°C 180–200°C earth compound/SiO2 catalyst, which was an improve- ment on the Deacon catalyst, Shell developed a flu- CuO CuCl idized bed air oxidation process capable of reactions at HCl, O2 lower temperatures in 1960.7) This catalyst system achieves a high catalytic performance by using CuCl2 Fig. 3 Scheme of circulating dual fluidized-bed to which alkali metal chloride and a rare earth chlo- reactor ride are added, generating a molten salt in reaction conditions. A 30,000 ton per year commercial produc- The Sumitomo Chemical Chlorine Production tion facility was operated in the 1970s, but it is said that Process it was stopped shortly thereafter. Mitsui Toatsu Chemicals, Inc. (currently Mitsui Aiming at an environmentally friendly process, Sum- Chemicals, Inc.) developed the MT-Chlor process, itomo Chemical developed a fixed bed process, which which is a fluidized bed process for oxidation with pure as a catalytic oxidation method, uses a RuO2/rutile-type 10) oxygen that uses a Cr2O3 · SiO2 catalyst. In 1988 Mitsui TiO2 catalyst. Toatsu Chemicals made it commercially viable at its Since the RuO2/TiO2 (rutile) catalyst has a higher Omuta plant, and is currently commercially operating activity than conventional catalysts and a sufficient re- at 60,000 tons per year. action rate can be obtained even at low temperatures Under the conditions of the reaction, the catalyst (Fig. 4) that are superior in terms of equilibrium for the operates without melting, and the reaction takes place using only the oxidation-reduction reaction without going through the chloride-oxide reaction cycle of the 100 0MPaG 95 Deacon system.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • History of the Chlor-Alkali Industry
    2 History of the Chlor-Alkali Industry During the last half of the 19th century, chlorine, used almost exclusively in the textile and paper industry, was made [1] by reacting manganese dioxide with hydrochloric acid 100–110◦C MnO2 + 4HCl −−−−−−→ MnCl2 + Cl2 + 2H2O (1) Recycling of manganese improved the overall process economics, and the process became known as the Weldon process [2]. In the 1860s, the Deacon process, which generated chlorine by direct catalytic oxidation of hydrochloric acid with air according to Eq. (2) was developed [3]. ◦ 450–460 C;CuCl2 cat. 4HCl + O2(air) −−−−−−−−−−−−−−→ 2Cl2 + 2H2O(2) The HCl required for reactions (1) and (2) was available from the manufacture of soda ash by the LeBlanc process [4,5]. H2SO4 + 2NaCl → Na2SO4 + 2HCl (3) Na2SO4 + CaCO3 + 2C → Na2CO3 + CaS + 2CO2 (4) Utilization of HCl from reaction (3) eliminated the major water and air pollution problems of the LeBlanc process and allowed the generation of chlorine. By 1900, the Weldon and Deacon processes generated enough chlorine for the production of about 150,000 tons per year of bleaching powder in England alone [6]. An important discovery during this period was the fact that steel is immune to attack by dry chlorine [7]. This permitted the first commercial production and distribu- tion of dry liquid chlorine by Badische Anilin-und-Soda Fabrik (BASF) of Germany in 1888 [8,9]. This technology, using H2SO4 for drying followed by compression of the gas and condensation by cooling, is much the same as is currently practiced. 17 “chap02” — 2005/5/2 — 09Brie:49 — page 17 — #1 18 CHAPTER 2 In the latter part of the 19th century, the Solvay process for caustic soda began to replace the LeBlanc process.
    [Show full text]
  • Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Reference Document on Best Available Techniques in the Chlor-Alkali Manufacturing Industry December 2001
    EUROPEAN COMMISSION Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Reference Document on Best Available Techniques in the Chlor-Alkali Manufacturing industry December 2001 Executive summary EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This reference document on best available techniques in the chlor-alkali industry reflects an information exchange carried out according to Article 16(2) of Council Directive 96/61/EC. The document has to be seen in the light of the preface which describes the objectives of the document and its use. The chlor-alkali industry The chlor-alkali industry is the industry that produces chlorine (Cl2) and alkali, sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or potassium hydroxide (KOH), by electrolysis of a salt solution. The main technologies applied for chlor-alkali production are mercury, diaphragm and membrane cell electrolysis, mainly using sodium chloride (NaCl) as feed or to a lesser extent using potassium chloride (KCl) for the production of potassium hydroxide. The diaphragm cell process (Griesheim cell, 1885) and the mercury cell process (Castner- Kellner cell, 1892) were both introduced in the late 1800s. The membrane cell process was developed much more recently (1970). Each of these processes represents a different method of keeping the chlorine produced at the anode separate from the caustic soda and hydrogen produced, directly or indirectly, at the cathode. Currently, 95% of world chlorine production is obtained by the chlor-alkali process. The geographic distribution of chlor-alkali processes world-wide differs appreciably (production capacity of chlorine): - western Europe, predominance of mercury cell process (June 2000): 55% - United States, predominance of diaphragm cell process: 75% - Japan, predominance of membrane cell process: >90% The remaining chlorine production capacity in western Europe consists of (June 2000) diaphragm cell process 22%, membrane cell process 20% and other processes 3%.
    [Show full text]
  • Environmental Protection Agency
    Friday, December 19, 2003 Part II Environmental Protection Agency 40 CFR Part 63 National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Mercury Emissions from Mercury Cell Chlor-Alkali Plants; Final Rule VerDate jul<14>2003 15:14 Dec 18, 2003 Jkt 203001 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4717 Sfmt 4717 E:\FR\FM\19DER2.SGM 19DER2 70904 Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 244 / Friday, December 19, 2003 / Rules and Regulations ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION types of sources (usually in the Information or other information whose AGENCY elemental or inorganic forms) transports disclosure is restricted by statute. through the atmosphere and eventually The official public docket is the 40 CFR Part 63 deposits onto land or water bodies. collection of materials that is available [OAR–2002–0017; FRL–7551–5] When mercury is deposited to surface for public viewing. The EPA Docket waters, natural processes (bacterial) can RIN 2060–AE85 Center Public Reading Room is open transform some of the mercury into from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday methylmercury that accumulates in fish. through Friday, excluding legal National Emission Standards for Ingestion is the primary exposure route Hazardous Air Pollutants: Mercury holidays. The telephone number for the of interest for methylmercury. The Reading Room is (202) 566–1744, and Emissions From Mercury Cell Chlor- health effect of greatest concern due to Alkali Plants the telephone number for the Air Docket methylmercury is neurotoxicity, is (202) 566–1742. AGENCY: Environmental Protection particularly with respect to fetuses and Agency (EPA). young children. Electronic Docket Access. You may access the final rule electronically ACTION: Final rule.
    [Show full text]
  • Optimization of Electrolysis Parameters for Green Sanitation Chemicals Production Using Response Surface Methodology
    processes Article Optimization of Electrolysis Parameters for Green Sanitation Chemicals Production Using Response Surface Methodology Nurul Izzah Khalid 1 , Nurul Shaqirah Sulaiman 1 , Norashikin Ab Aziz 1,2,* , Farah Saleena Taip 1, Shafreeza Sobri 3 and Nor-Khaizura Mahmud Ab Rashid 4 1 Department of Process and Food Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia; [email protected] (N.I.K.); [email protected] (N.S.S.); [email protected] (F.S.T.) 2 Halal Products Research Institute, University Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang 43300, Selangor, Malaysia 3 Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia; [email protected] 4 Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +603-9769-4302 Received: 22 May 2020; Accepted: 10 June 2020; Published: 6 July 2020 Abstract: Electrolyzed water (EW) shows great potential as a green and economical sanitation solution for the food industry. However, only limited studies have investigated the optimum electrolysis parameters and the bactericidal effect of acidic electrolyzed water (AcEW) and alkaline electrolyzed water (AlEW). Here, the Box–Behnken experimental design was used to identify the optimum parameters. The tests were conducted with different types of electrodes, electrical voltages, electrolysis times, and NaCl concentrations. There were no obvious differences observed in the physico-chemical properties of EW when different electrodes were used. However, stainless steel was chosen as it meets most of the selection criteria.
    [Show full text]
  • Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Reference Document on Best Available Techniques in the Chlor-Alkali Manufact
    EUROPEAN COMMISSION Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Reference Document on Best Available Techniques in the Chlor-Alkali Manufacturing Industry December 2001 i EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This reference document on best available techniques in the chlor-alkali industry reflects an information exchange carried out according to Article 16(2) of Council Directive 96/61/EC. The document has to be seen in the light of the preface which describes the objectives of the document and its use. The chlor-alkali industry The chlor-alkali industry is the industry that produces chlorine (Cl2) and alkali, sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or potassium hydroxide (KOH), by electrolysis of a salt solution. The main technologies applied for chlor-alkali production are mercury, diaphragm and membrane cell electrolysis, mainly using sodium chloride (NaCl) as feed or to a lesser extent using potassium chloride (KCl) for the production of potassium hydroxide. The diaphragm cell process (Griesheim cell, 1885) and the mercury cell process (Castner- Kellner cell, 1892) were both introduced in the late 1800s. The membrane cell process was developed much more recently (1970). Each of these processes represents a different method of keeping the chlorine produced at the anode separate from the caustic soda and hydrogen produced, directly or indirectly, at the cathode. Currently, 95% of world chlorine production is obtained by the chlor-alkali process. The geographic distribution of chlor-alkali processes world-wide differs appreciably (production capacity of chlorine): - western Europe, predominance of mercury cell process (June 2000): 55% - United States, predominance of diaphragm cell process: 75% - Japan, predominance of membrane cell process: >90% The remaining chlorine production capacity in western Europe consists of (June 2000) diaphragm cell process 22%, membrane cell process 20% and other processes 3%.
    [Show full text]
  • Mercury Fact Sheet
    National Mercury Testing Program The Rise of Mercury Pollution its way into our lakes and rivers. Once in the water, toxic mercury is absorbed through the fat and muscle tissue of There is growing concern and scientific evidence that many animals like fish. Americans are being exposed to harmful levels of mercury pollution. However, the Bush administration is failing to Most people are exposed to mercury by consuming the polluted protect Americans from this dangerous toxin. Instead, the fish. As a result, federal and state governments warn people to administration has proposed to delay for 10 to 20 years and limit the consumption of certain species of fish and fish caught weaken the first national law that would clean up mercury from in waters that are contaminated with mercury. power plants, the single largest source of mercury in the country. This is in stark contrast from what was originally People that work in industries that regularly handle mercury proposed and what is achievable now, even by the (dentistry, thermometer production) or deal with high level of Environmental Protection Agencys own previous analysis: a mercury emissions (electricity generation primarily through coal, chlorine production through chlor-akali facilities, 90 percent reduction in mercury pollution by 2008. insecticides, etc.) are also at an increased risk for exposure to mercury pollution. What is Mercury and Who is Affected by Mercury Pollution? The Food and Drug Administration is charged with the protection of the public from mercury in store-bought fish. Mercury is a neurotoxin that is most often seen as a by-product Unfortunately their recommendations are vague and provide from industrial processes like power plants, incinerators and insufficient information to the public.
    [Show full text]
  • Eco Profile on Chlorine
    An Eco-profile and Environmental Product Declaration of the European Chlor-Alkali Industry Chlorine (The chlor-alkali process) Euro Chlor September 2013 - Synthesis 1 Introduction Allocation method Stoichiometric allocation for Salt, mass allocation for all other input This Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is and emissions. Sensitivity analysis based upon life cycle inventory (LCI) data from for other allocation methods was performed. Euro Chlor’s member companies. It has been prepared according to the rules of Description of the Product and the PlasticsEurope’s LCI Methodology “Eco-profiles Production Process and Environmental Declarations” (version 2.0, This Eco-profile and EPD represents the European April 2011). EPDs provide environmental average industrial production of chlorine, sodium performance data, but no information on the hydroxide, hydrogen, and sodium hypochlorite by economic and social aspects, which would be chlor-alkali electrolysis from cradle to gate. necessary for a complete sustainability assessment. Further, they do not imply a value Production Process judgment between environmental criteria. Salt (NaCl) recovered from various sources (rock This EPD describes the production of chlorine by salt, solar salt, solution-mined brine, vacuum chlor-alkali electrolysis from cradle to gate (from salt) is dissolved in water and the resulting brine production of salt/brine to liquid chlorine, is purified and fed to the electrolysis unit where sodium hydroxide, and hypochlorite at plant). the brine is electrochemically decomposed into Please keep in mind that comparisons cannot chlorine, hydrogen, and sodium hydroxide. Three be made on the level of the chemicals alone: it different electrolysis techniques are applied: is necessary to consider the full life cycle of an mercury, diaphragm, and membrane cell application in order to compare the performance technology.
    [Show full text]
  • Mercury Use: Chemical Manufacturers/Users
    210 DRAFT WISCONSIN MERCURY SOURCEBOOK: CHEMICAL ▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼ MERCURY USE: Table of Contents About This Handout ........................... 211 CHEMICAL Why Should I Be Concerned About Mercury? ............................................. 212 MANUFACTURERS/USERS Keeping Mercury Out of Wastewater . 214 Sewer Pipes ......................................... 214 Mercury compounds are used in a wide variety of settings by chemical Mercury-Containing Compounds ...... 214 Work by the MPCA ............................. 214 manufacturers. Chemical uses of mercury may occur in catalysts, Mercury-Containing Chemicals and cosmetics, explosives, fireworks, livestock and poultry remedies, Alternatives ......................................... 215 packaging, pharmaceuticals, pigments and dyes, poisons, preservatives, Work by The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority ............................ 215 and special paper coatings. Commonly used mercury compounds include Results from 75 Priority Samples ...... 216 mercuric oxide (cathode material in batteries), mercuric chloride Caustic Soda ....................................... 217 (pharmaceuticals), phenylmercuric acetate (used in paints and Case study: Potlatch Corporation ..... 219 pharmaceuticals) mercuric sulfide (used in red pigment and other Action Ideas to Consider .................... 220 pharmaceuticals), and thimerosal (contact lens solutions) [ross and Bibliography ....................................... 220 associates]. Most of the mercury- containing
    [Show full text]
  • 1.6-MB PDF File
    The Materials Flow of Mercury in the Economies of the United States and the World By John L. Sznopek and Thomas G. Goonan U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1197 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior Bruce Babbitt, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Charles G. Groat, Director Version 1.0 This report is only available on line at http://greenwood. cr.usgs.gov/pub/circulars/c1197/ Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government . Published in the Central Region, Denver Colorado Manuscript approved for publication June 14, 2000 Edited by Lorna Carter Photo composition by William E. Sowers Graphics by William E. Sowers Contents Abstract ................................................................................................................................................ 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 1 Acknowledgments .............................................................................................................................. 3 Mercury Flow Analysis........................................................................................................................ 3 Domestic ...................................................................................................................................... 3 Emissions to the Environment ........................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • The European Chlor-Alkali Industry: an Electricity Intensive Sector Exposed to Carbon Leakage
    Brussels, December 2010 The European Chlor-Alkali industry: an electricity intensive sector exposed to carbon leakage The revised EU ETS (Emission Trading Scheme) Directive 2009/29/EC will have financial consequences for all energy-intensive industries. The chlor-alkali industry is in particular exposed to a significant risk of carbon leakage due to CO 2 costs passed through in the electricity prices. The Directive recognises the need to avoid carbon leakage whilst at the same time fulfilling the climate change objective of reducing CO 2 emissions and, consequently, it allows Member States to adopt financial measures to compensate energy-intensive sectors for the additional costs of carbon passed through in electricity prices. This document aims at explaining why and how the chlor-alkali industry is highly impacted by the EU Emission Trading Scheme. 1. The chlor-alkali industry 1.1. The importance of the European chlor-alkali industry Chlorine and caustic soda are basic building blocks for thousands of useful substances and products. The chlor-alkali industry underpins about 55% of the European chemicals and pharmaceuticals industry which realised in 2009 a turnover of almost 660 billion euro. About 20 million tonnes of chlorine, caustic soda and hydrogen are produced each year at 76 manufacturing sites in 22 European countries. The chlor-alkali sector employs about 39,000 people. About two thirds of European chlorine production is used in engineering materials – polymers, resins and elastomers. The largest single end use (35%) is PVC plastic for primarily the construction, automotive, electronic and electrical industries. The manufacturing processes of many chemicals, plastics and medicines use chlorine, although the end product is chlorine-free, such as the plastics polyurethane and polycarbonate which have increasing numbers of applications.
    [Show full text]
  • Water Is Life Disinfection Is Health the Disinfectant Our Product the Process the Preferred Application
    Being responsible is our foundation Thinking ahead makes it possible GRUNDFOS WATER TREATMENT Innovation is the essence Complete range of disinfectants from a single source Water is life Disinfection is health The disinfectant Our product The process The preferred application Chlorine gas Vaccuperm Vacuum chlorine gas Drinking water: VGA-111/-113/-117 dosing Independent water supply VGB-103 Waste water: Industrial waste water up to 10 kg/h Public swimming pools Vaccuperm Fully automatic Drinking water: Municipal waterworks VGS 140 vacuum chlorine gas Waste water: dosing up to 200 kg/h Municipal sewage purification plants Onsite generation of Selcoperm SES Electrolytic Drinking water: sodium hypochlorite chlorine production up to 2 kg/h Independent water supply Waste water: Industrial waste water higher capacities on request Public swimming pools Marine - application specific Chlorine dioxide Oxiperm Chlorite / hydrochloric Drinking water: Municipal waterworks OCD-164 acid (diluted or Food and drinks industry: OCC-164 concentrated) or Brewing water, bottle washing, CIP OCG-166 chlorite/chlorine systems, etc. up to 10 kg/h Cooling circuit water Oxiperm Chlorite / hydrochloric Drinking water: Hotels, hospitals, OCD-162 acid (diluted) retirement homes, protection against up to 60 g/h legionella Shower facilities in swimming pools Cooling circuit water ++++ chlorine ++++ chlorine electrolysis ++++ chlorine dioxide ++++ Commercial buildings 15.890006 96737386 www.grundfosalldos.com Chlorine gas Chlorine Chlorine dioxide Vaccuperm Selcoperm Oxiperm® Chlorine gas systems Onsite generation Chlorine dioxide systems - saves time and operating costs. Chlorine – the no. 1 disinfectant worldwide % HCIO % CI2, % CIO Electrolytic production and dosing of sodium The disinfectant is dosed from the buffer tank directly into Chlorine dioxide – effective even against biofilms the piping system with a dosing pump.
    [Show full text]
  • View Table of Contents (PDF)
    PROCESS ECONOMICS PROGRAM SRI INTERNATIONAL Menlo Park, California 94025 Abstract Proceee Economic Program Report No. 61 D CHLORINE (June 1992) Chloralkali producers around the world - in the major industrialized countries in particular - are pondering the balance between sagging demand for chlorine and strong demand for caustic soda. The former is caused by increasing environmental pressure in the following major sectors: l Dioxin generated during pulp bleaching with chlorine has forced the pulp and paper indus- try to switch from chemical bleaching to chemi-thermal mechanical bleaching, replacing chlorine with hydrogen peroxide. l Serious depletion of ozone layers has caused the major industrialized countries to totally phase out CFC production by 1995-l 996,4 to 5 years ahead of the deadline set by the 1990 internationally approved Montreal Protocol. l Laws in Western Europe have been proposed to restrict the use of PVC for food and non- food packaging. This report, a supplement to PEP Report 61 C issued in December 1962, presents a compre- hensive review of technology and economics for the production of primary chlorine by electrolysis of brine in the membrane cell, diaphragm cell, or mercury cell processes, and production of secondary chlorine by catalytic oxidation as well as electrolysis of HCI. Also presented are preliminary eco- nomicsfor process conversion and retrofit from either mercury cells or diaphragm cells to membrane cells. PEP’92 YRC Report No. 61 D CHLORINE SUPPLEMENT D by YU-REN CHIN with contributions by CHEE-HORNG CHANG MING-KUNG SHEN June 1992 A private report by the Menlo Park, California 94025 For detailedmarketing data and information, the reader is referred to one of the SRI programs specializing in marketing research.
    [Show full text]