Solvay Chemicals Inc. on April 12 commissioned and brought online one of the world’s only dedicated manufacturing facilities, located in Green River, Wyo., that reclaims and transforms sodium carbonate waste streams into a marketable grade of sodium bicarbonate. The new product, SOLVAir Select 300, is ideally suited for flue gas and emission control applications.
“Today represents more than five years of hard work and collaboration across two continents between a talented group of Solvay engineering and manufacturing professionals,” said Vincent De Cuyper, general manager of the Solvay Group’s Chemicals Sector and member of the executive committee. “We achieved an environmental and technical milestone within our industry and underscored Solvay’s commitment to being at the forefront of sustainable Chemistry.”
The patent-pending manufacturing process delivers a two-for-one environmental benefit by reclaiming wastes that would otherwise be shipped to a detention pond, and also by creating product that directly helps coal-fired power plants reduce SO2 and other acid gas emissions. The unique process remanufactures the waste stream and economically recovers the sodium carbonate, transforming it into a sodium bicarbonate product with performance characteristics that are well suited for desulfurization applications.
“With ever tightening emission control standards and even greater demand for energy, our power generation customers are seeking new and cost-effective solutions for their operations,” said Mike Wood, SOLVAir Products senior pusiness manager. “The new SOLVAir Select 300 grade of sodium bicarbonate gives our customers the performance attributes required for demanding pollution control applications.”
There are currently 29 coal-fired power plants under construction in the U.S. with another 25 in development. For these generators and existing operators, there is a great deal of interest in and demand for a wider array of pollution control options. SOLVAir Select 300 extends Solvay Chemicals’ portfolio of SOLVAir pollution control solutions. This suite of products based in trona, soda ash, sodium bicarbonate, sodium sulfite and hydrogen peroxide chemistries targets SO2, SO3, NOX, mercury, HCL and particulate emissions.
About Solvay Chemicals Inc.
Solvay Chemicals Inc. is part of the Solvay Group, an international industrial group active in chemistry. It offers a broad range of products and solutions aimed at improving quality of life. The group is headquartered in Brussels and its companies employ approximately 19,000 people in 50 countries. In 2009, the Solvay Group’s consolidated sales amounted to EUR 8.5 billion.
