Newsreader

Headimage abstract

Covestro starts up Chem research facility

A miniplant will be used to research the use of metallurgical gases as a raw material source for polycarbonates.

 

Covestro is reportedly using a miniplant at its Dormagen site to investigate the processing of carbon monoxide from the steel industry for the production of high-quality polycarbonates. Where cross-sector networking between the steel and chemical industries makes sense will be clarified in the Carbon 2 Chem project, which is funded by the German government until 2024. Covestro is involved in the Carbon 2 Polymers subproject, according to the materials manufacturer. According to Covestro, the new small-scale plant in Dormagen is part of the second project phase. It will now test whether the quality of CO from smelter gases is sufficient for further processing. According to Covestro, life cycle analyses have shown that around 0.48 kilograms of CO2 equivalents can be saved per kilogram of CO provided in the steel industry-chemical industry alliance. The company has reportedly been working closely with Thyssenkrupp since 2016. RWTH Aachen University and the Max Planck Institute in Mühlheim are also among the project participants, according to Covestro. "Metallurgical gases have the advantage that they bring with them many accompanying substances. If we succeed in processing the CO in such a way that we can use it to produce our high-performance plastics, we can also do it with other non-fossil-based CO sources," says Dr. Stefanie Eiden, who heads the Carbon 2 Polymers subproject at Covestro. The aim is to clarify by the end of the year whether the process makes economic and ecological sense.

 

Sources:

  • plastverarbeiter.de (13.7.2021)
  • Photo: © Covestro

Go back