Intelligent technologies from Uhde and Bayer improve energy efficiency

Commissioning of first large-scale plant for climate-friendly chlorine production

In March 2010 Uhde and Bayer MaterialScience signed a contract for the construction of a new chlorine plant at the Chempark Krefeld-Uerdingen site. This 20,000-tonne chlorine demonstration plant has now come on-stream. The oxygen-depolarised cathode used for this has been incorporated into the new single-element technology from Uhde/UHDENORA. With the introduction of this new industrial manufac-turing process the two companies involved are hoping to significantly reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions. The combination of the two technologies was developed at Bayer in Leverkusen over the past eight years. Provided the two-year large-scale trial is successful, Bayer will gradually switch its chlorine production to the new process. In addition, the companies also intend to offer the new technology on the global market from 2013 onwards. Major German chlorine producers have already announced their interest, as have a number of companies in the Asia/Pacific region.

”We are proud of our long partnership with Bayer MaterialScience,” said Alfred Hoffmann, Member of Uhde’s Executive Board. “As a technology-driven company we are always on the lookout for solutions that provide our customers and the market with economic and ecological benefits. This first-class, future-oriented technology has the potential to offer such a solution.”

”Improving energy efficiency in chemical production processes can considerably reduce electricity consumption in Germany and elsewhere in the world,” said Patrick Thomas, Chief Executive Officer Bayer MaterialScience.

Chlorine is an essential building block in today’s chemical industry. Electrochemical chlorine production is, however, one of the most energy-intensive processes in the entire sector. Chlorine is used for the produc-tion of plastics in particular and also for the manufacture of pharmaceuticals.

Uhde has a workforce of more than 4,500 employees worldwide and is a company in the Plant Technology business area of the thyssenkrupp Group. The company's activities focus on the engineering and construction of chemical and other industrial plants in the following fields: fertilisers; electrolysis; gas technologies; oil, coal, and residue gasifica-tion; refining technologies; organic intermediates, polymers and synthetic fibres; and also coke plant and high-pressure technologies. We also provide our customers with professional services and comprehensive solutions in all areas of industrial plant operation. Details are available at www.uhde.eu

UHDENORA is a joint company of Uhde/Germany and Industrie De Nora/Italy, and has a workforce of 70 employees worldwide. The company's activities focus on the design and construction of chemical and other industrial plants mainly in the following fields: chlor-alkali electrolysis, hydrochloric acid electrolysis and bleaching chemicals. Details are available at www.uhdenora.com

With 2010 sales of EUR 10.2 billion, Bayer MaterialScience is among the world’s largest polymer companies. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, electrical and electronics, construction and the sports and leisure industries. At the end of 2010, Bayer MaterialScience had 30 production sites and employed approximately 14,700 people around the globe. Bayer MaterialScience is a Bayer Group company. Details are available at www.bayermaterialscience.de