thyssenkrupp Uhde supplies chlor-alkali electrolysis technology to AkzoNobel

At the Frankfurt-Höchst industrial estate, AkzoNobel is converting an amalgam electrolysis plant to the modern membrane process and has commissioned thyssenkrupp Uhde to design and supply the energy-saving thyssenkrupp Uhde membrane cells.

This extensive conversion project involves replacing the existing amalgam cells with thyssenkrupp Uhde single-element membrane electrolysers. The new plant will increase annual production capacity by around 50% to 250,000 tonnes of chlorine and 275,000 tonnes of caustic soda solution. Commissioning is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2013.

"We are proud that our electrolysis technology is to be used at the Frankfurt-Höchst site, where the first Hoechst-Uhde membrane cell was once developed," said Dr. Sami Pelkonen, Head of thyssenkrupp Uhde's Electrolysis division.

thyssenkrupp Uhde's scope of services will include the basic and detail engineering of the electrolysers, as well as their supply and supervision of the commissioning activities. “The energy consumption per ton of product will be improved by nearly 30%”, said Martin Riswick, General Manager of AkzoNobel’s Chlor-Alkali business, “This is fully aligned with AkzoNobel’s Value and Values strategy and will boost our ambition to become the sustainability leader in the chlor-alkali industry”.

thyssenkrupp Uhde has a workforce of more than 5,600 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 gasification; 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