Clariant launches major climate protection initiative to provide free nitrous oxide emission reduction catalysts to global nitric acid producers

● Nitrous oxide (N2O), a by-product of nitric acid production, is about 300 times more harmful to the climate than carbon dioxide

● Effectively removes up to 95% of nitrous oxide by using Clariant's EnviCat® N2O-S catalyst

● Clariant aims to help avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to millions of tons of carbon dioxide by providing catalyst free of charge to 10 producers worldwide

On 24 November 2021 , Clariant launched a major global initiative aimed at reducing the impact of nitrous oxide (N2O) on climate change .
Drawing on decades of catalyst research experience, the company has developed the EnviCat N2O-S catalyst, proven to remove 95% of nitrous oxide, a by-product of nitric acid production .
Clariant is currently planning to provide EnviCat N2O-S free of charge to 10 nitric acid producers that do not have nitrous oxide off-gas treatment .
With this move, the company hopes to help avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to millions of tons of carbon dioxide each year .

Of the approximately 500 nitric acid plants in operation worldwide, more than half of them have no nitrous oxide mitigation measures, most of which are located in areas without applicable emission control regulations
.
Clariant now aims to achieve a more sustainable production process
.
The company will provide EnviCat N2O-S catalyst free of charge to 10 nitric acid producers that do not currently use nitrous oxide abatement catalysts
.

Hans Bohnen, Clariant's chief operating officer, said: "Sustainability is no longer a business plan for the future, it is at the heart of what we do and requires immediate action
.
That's why Clariant has developed a new and ambitious science.
Emission reduction targets
.
But as a specialty chemicals company, we can do more, so I am proud to announce that we are committed to making significant investments to help nitric acid producers around the world effectively eliminate nitrous oxide emissions
.
This Not only will it help protect the climate, but it will also help nitric acid producers minimize their carbon footprint and make progress on their sustainability journey
.
"

Stefan Heuser, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Catalysts business at Clariant, said: "Our aim is to make an important contribution to the environment
.
Although nitrous oxide is extremely harmful to the climate, our catalysts can easily remove it
.
We believe that these nitric acid producers are likely to be willing to make changes once they benefit from the use of freely available catalysts without obligation
.
”

Global annual production of nitric acid exceeds 60 million tons, mainly for fertilizer production
.
Although this chemical is important to our food chain, it has one big drawback: its production process emits nitrous oxide, which is extremely harmful to the climate
.
This greenhouse gas remains in the atmosphere for up to 114 years, and therefore contributes about 300 times more global warming than carbon dioxide
.
The annual emissions of nitrous oxide from the production of nitric acid and its derivative adipic acid are equivalent to about 100 million tons of carbon dioxide
.

The technology to avoid the severe effects of nitrous oxide emissions is already here: Clariant's EnviCat N2O-S catalyst converts up to 95% of the nitrous oxide produced in the production of nitric acid into harmless oxygen and nitrogen
.
The catalyst is not only beneficial for climate protection, but also slightly increases nitric acid production by improving the efficiency of the ammonia oxidation process
.
As an extremely convenient drop-in replacement, it is easy to fill and requires little engineering adjustment
.

Clariant's EnviCat N2O emission control catalysts have been used in more than 45 nitric acid production plants worldwide, reducing nitrous oxide emissions equivalent to more than 20 million tons of carbon dioxide annually
.