The plant produces its EnviCat catalysts, which remove up to 99% of harmful emissions such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, nitrogen oxide and ammonia, from industrial off-gases in chemical production plants, stationary engines and turbines. 

Clariant said output has increased 100% compared with that in 2019, adding it has seen a dramatic increase in global demand for this type of catalyst, particularly in China which had introduced strict new legislation to improve air quality.

The Swiss firm noted that in 2020 and the first half of 2021, 56 Chinese chemical producers had decided to use its catalysts to upgrade their production facilities, with strong growth for controlling emissions in propane dehydrogenation, as well as in acrylic acid, acrylonitrile and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) production.

The Heufeld plant is Clariant’s second-largest production site for catalysts, producing more than 500 varieties of those used in emission control.

Author: Elaine Burridge, Freelance Journalist