AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals and Evonik Industries have successfully started production at their new joint venture to produce chlorine and potassium hydroxide at the company’s Ibbenbüren site in Germany. The facility uses membrane electrolysis technology to produce up to 120,000 MT of potassium hydroxide and 75,000 MT of chlorine per year, as well as hydrogen.
The plant will strengthen the respective leading positions of both companies. AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals will receive chlorine and hydrogen, while Evonik will market the potassium hydroxide from the facility and convert part of the output at its Lülsdorf site into other products, including potassium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate and potassium formate.
The site’s new production process will improve the ecological footprint of every ton of chlorine produced in Ibbenbüren by 25 to 30%. This will result in less energy use, lower costs and fewer CO2 emissions.
