AkzoNobel and Evonik start membrane electrolysis operation

15-Feb-2018 - Germany

The production of Neolyse Ibbenbüren GmbH, a joint venture of AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals and Evonik Industries AG at the AkzoNobel site in Ibbenbüren (Germany), is off to a successful start. The plant with its state-of-the-art membrane technology has an annual capacity of 120,000 metric tons of potassium hydroxide solution and 75,000 metric tons of chlorine and hydrogen.

Operated by AkzoNobel, the facility strengthens the respective leading positions of both companies.
AkzoNobel commercializes chlorine and hydrogen, while Evonik distributes the locally produced potassium hydroxide solution and processes parts of it into other products such as potassium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate and potassium formate at its Lülsdorf site.

“The Ibbenbüren facility sets a completely new standard for the chlor-alkali industry,” said Werner Fuhrmann, Chairman of the AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals Executive Board, during the official opening ceremony of the new facility. “It enables us to secure the supply of our customers in the long term while further improving our company’s sustainability profile and operational efficiency.”

The new production process at the site improves the ecological footprint of every metric ton of chlorine produced in Ibbenbüren by 25 to 30 percent, resulting in lower energy consumption and fewer CO2 emissions. “We demonstrated throughout the course of the project that two experienced partners can contribute their diverse experience to intelligently shape their business environment. We complement each other very well and look forward to continuing our collaboration, which benefits our customers and therefore ultimately also the market for potassium hydroxide,” noted Dr. Harald Schwager, Deputy Chairman of the Evonik Executive Board, on the occasion of opening the plant.