Page 168 - CW E-Magazine (5-12-2023)

News from Abroad

CARBON CAPTURE & UTILISATION
ArcelorMittal begins ethanol production from steel

plant emissions

Steel giant, ArcelorMittal, has colla-
borated with US-based carbon recyc-
ling firm, LanzeTech, to achieve its the
first industrial production of ethanol at
its Steelanol plant, Europe’s first carbon
capture and utilisation (CCU) project.
This milestone was achieved on
November 7, 2023, at ArcelorMittal
Belgium’s Ghent plant. The ethanol pro-
duction is a significant step in the full
commissioning of the Steelanol plant.
Consultancy firm, E4Tech, and UK-
based engineering company, Primetals
Technologies, were the other partners
in the project.

The Steelanol plant captures car-
bon-rich industrial gases from steel
production at ArcelorMittal Gent, and
biologically converts them into etha- catalyst was introduced into the plant was followed on November 7 by the
nol using LanzaTech’s carbon bio- (a process known as inoculation) to first industrial production of ethanol
recycling process. LanzaTech’s tech- start the growth of the microorganisms from one of the four bioreactors. A further
nology works like a brewery, but and verify the production of new mole- ramp-up of production is expected in
instead of yeast consuming sugar, cules. In June 2023, the first samples coming months. The plant has the capa-
proprietary bacteria consume carbon containing ethanol were produced in city to produce 80-million litres of
gas and convert it into ethanol. the inoculator. ethanol, almost half of the total current
ethanol demand for fuel mixing in
The plant was officially inaugura- Over the past few weeks, gases Belgium, and has the potential to reduce
ted in December 2022, followed by cold from the blast furnace have been safely carbon emissions from the Ghent plant
commissioning. Afterwards, the bio- introduced into the bioreactors. This by 125-ktpa.

BASF increases defoamer capacity in Turkey

BASF, a leading supplier of addi- the company said. The line will help
tives to the coatings industry, has reduce lead times and to cut emissions
announced the expansion of defoamer related to transportation of the pro-
capacity at its Dilovasi plant in Turkey. ducts by significantly reducing distan-
Defoamers are essential in the produc- ces. The Dilovasi plant in Turkey serves
tion of paints, coatings and inks since as a key supply point for Dispex AA
they prevent not only foaming but also, products, including defoamers. The
as a result, defect formation. recent expansion of the polyacrylic-
dispersing-agent line and the now
“The new production line increa- mand for high-performance Foamaster enlarged defoamer capacity further
ses the company’s capacity on site, and Foamstar products in South-East strengthen the plant’s role in BASF’s
allowing a better response to rising de- Europe, the Middle East and Africa,” additives business.

168 Chemical Weekly December 5, 2023

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