thyssenkrupp Uhde unveils emission reduction system for deployment in China

Covestro’s NAUCI plant in SCIP is part of their global network of facilities dedicated to producing high-performance polymers and plastics such as polyurethanes, polycarbonates, and precursors for paints, coatings, adhesives, and sealants. The commissioning of the EnviNOx system at this site marks another milestone in Covestro’s journey towards full circularity and climate neutrality.

Michael Huang, General Manager of Covestro Integrated Site, Shanghai, said: “We are thrilled with the outstanding performance of the EnviNOx system and the smooth project execution. This project is a testament to our environmental responsibility and Covestro’s commitment to reach climate neutrality in Scope 1 and 2 emissions until 2035.”

Nadja Håkansson, CEO of thyssenkrupp Uhde, commented: “The successful implementation of another EnviNOx system in China underscores our capability to provide innovative solutions that address global environmental challenges.”

The EnviNOx technology, developed by thyssenkrupp Uhde, is a leading solution for the combined removal of N₂O and NO_x from industrial emissions. It has been successfully implemented in over 60 installations worldwide, reducing CO₂-equivalent emissions by more than 24 million tpy. The system’s ability to achieve near-zero NO_x emissions and significant N₂O reduction makes it an essential tool for industries aiming to meet stringent environmental regulations. Thanks to its versatile design, it can be easily installed into the tail gas systems of industrial chemical plants as a tertiary abatement solution. In addition, the tertiary EnviNOx unit can ideally be combined with secondary measures/catalysts for N₂O removal.

Climate protection technology

The EnviNOx system, licensed, engineered, and supplied by thyssenkrupp Uhde, comes as a complete package of proprietary reactor, a proprietary high-performance tertiary catalyst manufactured by BASF, and all necessary components and control systems for integration into the tail gas system.

By additionally combining Uhde’s EnviNOx technology with a secondary catalyst from BASF, Covestro achieved a reduction in N₂O and NO_x emissions well beyond 99%, lowering the levels to below 1 ppm. This advancement is expected to enable Covestro to reduce N₂O emissions in their nitric acid plant in addition by more than 200 000 tpy of CO₂ equivalents. “Our combined expertise with thyssenkrupp Uhde is already making a difference in our joint goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Our research and development teams are continuously pushing the boundaries of conventional thinking to design and produce catalysts with high activity and durability, supporting our customers in their sustainability transformation”, said Detlef Ruff, Senior Vice President, Chemical Catalysts and Adsorbents at BASF.

Designed and built to last

Originally developed for nitric acid plants, the EnviNOx system can be adapted to various industrial processes. This flexibility makes it a versatile solution for emission control in various applications. In China, for example, it has first been installed in caprolactam plants over 10 years ago. The current project for Covestro is the third EnviNOx system in China in total, contributing to the country’s environmental ambitions. The very first installation of an EnviNOx unit at an industrial scale dates back more than 20 years. Since then, the EnviNOx process and catalyst have been continuously developed further and optimised. With the experience of over 3000 chemical plants built in a broad range of process technologies, thyssenkrupp Uhde offers a robust, low-maintenance solution.

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/petrochemicals/13052025/thyssenkrupp-uhde-unveils-emission-reduction-system-for-deployment-in-china/