LANXESS reduces greenhouse gas emissions
LANXESS has a reputation for taking responsibility – and that naturally also applies to the environment. To achieve a further significant reduction in the emission of harmful greenhouse gases, the specialty chemicals group will therefore build a second laughing gas reduction unit – LARA in short – at its Krefeld-Uerdingen site. The facility will begin operation at the beginning of 2009.
As a result, LANXESS will cut its annual emissions of climate gas in Germany by 1.5 million metric tons by 2012 compared with 2007. With this "lighthouse project", the company will eliminate as much as 80 percent of its total direct greenhouse gas emissions in Germany.
What is laughing gas?
Laughing gas – chemically, dinitrogen monoxide – is a by-product in the production of adipic acid, which is used primarily as a raw material for the production of our high-performance polyamide plastics. Laughing gas is completely non-toxic but is one of the most harmful gases in existence as far as the environment is concerned. For this reason, we started up a plant a few years ago in Krefeld-Uerdingen for the thermal splitting of the gas. At that time, it was the first of its kind in Germany. We are, so to speak, pioneers in the breaking down of laughing gas, which is 310 times more harmful to the environment than carbon dioxide.
With the new plant, LANXESS will expand its technology leadership in this field. It will neutralize some 5,000 metric tons of laughing gas every year, which is equivalent to 1.5 million tons of carbon dioxide!
How does LARA work?
The dinitrogen monoxide from the waste gas stream from adipic acid production is separated into its constituent parts, oxygen and nitrogen. The heat created during this process generates steam that is fed into the ChemPark's steam network.
By means of the existing plant, between 85 and 90 percent of the dintrogen monoxide is split into harmless molecules. With the addition of the second one, we will be able to eliminate our laughing gas emissions completely.
Firstly, here in Germany, at all our sites around the world and within our own production sites.
Secondly, wherever possible, also where we procure our energy and raw materials.
And thirdly, of course, with our products that we sell to customers all over the world.
We know full well that climate protection and environmental protection ALWAYS represent an integrated, holistic challenge. No-one can successfully master this challenge if they do not keep a close eye on the ENTIRE value chain connected with the production process.
But we also know that we can only make progress if we start by taking a close look at ourselves first! With the direct emissions and with our own emissions!
