Clariant, a leader in sustainable specialty chemicals, has announced the successful installation of its EnviCat™ N2O-S catalyst at Hengli Petrochemical’s nitric acid facility in Dalian, China. Through its global Climate Campaign, Clariant provided complimentary N2O removal catalysts to selected nitric acid producers without abatement technology. Hengli Petrochemical, one of the beneficiaries, operates a nitric acid plant with an annual capacity of 300,000 metric tons.

Installed in June 2024, the EnviCat™ N2O-S catalyst is projected to reduce Hengli’s N2O emissions by 690,000 tons of CO2 equivalent annually. Nitrous oxide (N2O), a potent greenhouse gas nearly 300 times more harmful than CO2, is a byproduct of nitric acid production—a critical component in fertilizer manufacturing. Global nitric acid production emits over 100 million tons of CO2 equivalent annually, as more than half of producers lack N2O removal systems. 

Clariant’s EnviCat™ N2O catalyst addresses this issue by achieving up to 99% N2O removal for tertiary abatement and 95% for secondary abatement. Designed as a seamless drop-in solution, the catalyst can be installed without disrupting operations and has been successfully implemented in over 50 facilities worldwide for more than two decades. 

Xaver Karsunke, Clariant’s Vice President of Specialty Catalysts, emphasized the collaboration’s impact, stating, “We are honored to support Hengli Petrochemical’s efforts toward sustainable chemical production. Partnerships like these are essential for accelerating China’s energy transition and achieving ambitious decarbonization goals.” 

Hengli Petrochemical’s Plant Manager, Aibo Zhu, expressed pride in the partnership, highlighting their commitment to sustainable practices: “As one of the largest global chemical companies, we are dedicated to environmentally responsible operations. The collaboration with Clariant significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions at our nitric acid facility.” 

Hengli Petrochemical, a subsidiary of the Hengli Group, is a top integrated petrochemical producer with expertise in oil refining, advanced polyester materials, and textiles. Ranked 81st on the 2024 Fortune Global 500, the group also runs the world’s largest terephthalic acid facility.

Clariant’s Climate Campaign, running from November 2021 to March 2022, aimed to showcase cost-effective emission reduction solutions and encourage climate-neutral practices. Hengli, along with several other producers, was selected to receive a complimentary shipment of the EnviCat™ N2O-S catalyst.

With proven technology and collaborative efforts, Clariant’s EnviCat™ N2O-S is driving global decarbonization and positioning nitric acid producers for a more sustainable future. 

Clariant is a global leader in specialty chemicals for the construction industry, offering products such as superplasticizers, concrete additives, and drilling additives. As an independent manufacturer, Clariant Catalysts delivers energy-efficient catalyst technologies that drive sustainability in the chemical sector.