AkzoNobel using bio-steam to sustainably produce salt

On 13 February, Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs Henk Kamp, Eneco and Groningen Seaports opened a facility to supply steam from biomass to the chemical park at Delfzijl in the Netherlands, home of Euro Chlor member company's AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals site.

The Eneco facility burns waste wood to produce electricity and heat for the surrounding industries. After some development at the site to harnass any residual heat, the new system pipes the resulting steam nearly 3km to AkzoNobel's Delfzijl site where it is used to produce salt. This salt can then be used in electrolysis units to make chlorine and other chlorinated chemicals for use in other processes.

The plant conversion has also increased the efficiency of the Netherlands’ largest biomass plant meaning that the same amount of biomass now produces twice as much energy and effectively reduces CO2 emissions.

AkzoNobel's website contains more information and a great video on this innovative project!