Clariant has successfully installed its EnviCat N2O-S catalyst at Hengli Petrochemical’s nitric acid plant in Dalian, China, as part of its global Climate Campaign, enabling the plant to reduce N2O emissions by 690,000 tons of CO2-equivalent annually.

China: Clariant, a global leader in sustainable specialty chemicals, has announced the successful installation of its EnviCat N2O-S catalyst at Hengli Petrochemical’s nitric acid production facility in Dalian, China. This significant step is part of Clariant’s ongoing global Climate Campaign, designed to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the chemical industry.

The EnviCat N2O-S catalyst, a highly effective solution in the removal of nitrous oxide (N2O), was introduced to Hengli’s plant as part of a campaign that provided the catalyst free of charge to nitric acid producers without existing abatement technology. The installation, completed in June 2024, will enable Hengli’s plant to reduce N2O emissions by an estimated 690,000 tons of CO2-equivalent (CO2eq) annually.

Xaver Karsunke, Vice President of Specialty Catalysts at Clariant, emphasized the importance of the partnership: "We are honored to support Hengli Petrochemical in their drive toward cleaner chemical production. Our catalysts not only help industry leaders like Hengli to significantly reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions, but also to do so in the most efficient and economical manner possible. Partnerships like this are crucial for accelerating China's energy transition and meeting the country's ambitious decarbonization goals.”

Aibo Zhu, Plant Manager at Hengli Petrochemical, expressed the company’s dedication to sustainability: "As one of the world's largest chemical companies, we are committed to sustainable and environmentally responsible operations across all our businesses. We are proud to partner with Clariant on this innovative N20 abatement solution to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions at our large-scale nitric acid facility in Dalian.”

Hengli Petrochemical, part of the Hengli Group, is one of China’s largest integrated petrochemical companies and a key player in the global chemical market. Hengli operates the world’s largest terephthalic acid plant and is ranked 81st in the 2024 Fortune Global 500 list.

The nitric acid production process, while crucial for fertilizer manufacturing, releases significant amounts of N2O, a greenhouse gas that is nearly 300 times more potent than CO2. Despite its harmful impact, more than half of nitric acid producers worldwide do not employ N2O removal technologies. With approximately 66 million tons of nitric acid produced annually, global N2O emissions from industry are equivalent to more than 100 million tons of CO2eq each year.

According to TechSci Research, the successful installation of Clariant's EnviCat N2O-S catalyst at Hengli Petrochemical’s plant marks a pivotal advancement in sustainable practices within the nitric acid industry. Nitrous oxide (N2O), a by-product of nitric acid production, is a highly potent greenhouse gas, nearly 300 times more harmful than carbon dioxide. With more than 100 million tons of CO2-equivalent emissions annually attributed to global nitric acid production, solutions like EnviCat N2O-S are game-changers for industrial decarbonization. For the chemical industry, particularly in emerging markets like China, this development highlights a growing trend toward adopting eco-friendly technologies in response to stricter environmental regulations and global climate commitments. Moreover, it underscores the increasing demand for catalysts that mitigate emissions from industrial gases. This initiative not only enhances sustainability credentials but also helps companies like Hengli Petrochemical optimize operations and align with global decarbonization goals—critical factors influencing market competitiveness and investor confidence.