Germany's Evonik and AkzoNobel of the Netherlands are discussing plans for joint construction and opearation of a membrane electrolysis plant for potassium hydroxide solution and chlorine at AkzoNobel's site in Ibbenbüren, Germany.

Talks about the proposed jv are scheduled to be concluded some time this year.

EU legislation requires that production of potassium hydroxide solutions with the mercury electrolysis technology currently in use in many places must be phased out by 2018 and replaced by the more environmentally friend membrane electrolysis process.  

Evonik is a major European producer of hydroxide solutions and derivatives as well as a globally leading provider of alkoxides, which are manufactured by electrolysis at its Lülsdorf site.

The new membrane electrolysis facility at Ibbenbüren would have nominal annual capacity of around 130,000 t/y of potassium hydroxide solution and 82,000 t/y of chlorine. The start of production is projected for the third quarter of 2017.

Under the plans being discussed, AkzoNobel would handle marketing of chlorine and hydrogen or process the substances directly at the Ibbenbüren site. Evonik would be responsible for marketing and further processing of potassium hydroxide solution at Lülsdorf, where the chemical is used as a feedstock for potassium carbonate.