THE FUTURE, - Solvay

206818 208967 209121
S-300 EXPANSION IN GREEN RIVER
The ultimate recovery
of effl uent
THE PROJECT. Effl uent from the trona (natural
carbonate) processing plant at Green River (United
States) is discharged into settling ponds.
At the same time, the growing market for
bicarbonate in the United States is for the S-300
technical, low-cost grades, little demanding in
terms of purity as they are used for fl ue gas
cleaning in thermal electricity generating stations
to neutralize SO 2 (sulfur dioxide). This fast-growing
market is enormous.
The idea therefore came up that such a product
could be made by carbonating trona processing
effl uent with CO 2, despite its high levels of salt,
sodium sulfates and silica. After a technical study
conducted at the CER Dombasle (France), the
feasibility of the project was confi rmed.
One unit is currently under construction and is
scheduled to start in late 2009.
Initially it will work with CO 2 purchased externally.
Ultimately it is planned to use the CO 2 recovered
on our sites.
This original process has only advantages, in line
with the Group’s imperatives for market growth,
competitiveness, better use of our raw materials
and limiting pollution. For instance, it may well
obviate the need to build a new settling pond.
Finally, it is also a fi ne example of intercontinental
cooperation between the United States and
Europe.
SBU SODA ASH
> Kurt Allen; Thoi-Dai Chau; Claude Criado;
Perrine Davoine; David Hansen; Marc Mistiaen;
Alain Vandendoren.
BIO-ETHYLENE FOR VINYLS
A “bio-PVC” from sugar
and salt
THE PROJECT. We wanted to increase our
PVC offering in Brazil in response to the demand
of a growing market. The problem was that we
missed one of the main raw materials: ethylene.
Ethylene production in this region of the world is
in the hands of a single supplier.
The innovative solution here was to manufacture
bio-ethylene from bioethanol, coming from locally
produced sugar cane, “bio” meaning that the raw
material comes from a renewable natural
resource.
This idea is not that new, but we decided to build
the very fi rst large scale plant, with a new reactor
design and a low energy consumption process,
adapting the quality of the ethylene to the use of a
vinyl chloride (VCM) plant, capable of producing
the fi rst “bio-PVC” from sugar and salt.
SBU VINYLS
> Joëlle Gaspard; René Castro; Paul Degraeve;
Mauro Furlanetto; François Harvengt;
Carlos Nardocci; Michel Strebelle; Sergio Zini.
SOLVAY’S GREEN ROAD TO SUSTAINABLE
TRANSPORT
A black box for green roads
THE PROJECT. Solvay has developed a pilot
partnership in Europe with a group of carriers and
start-up company G-Tech², to reduce the
environmental impact, fuel consumption and risk
connected with its road transport operations,
which remain a important component of the
Group’s logistics chain.
Six subcontractor carriers have agreed to install in
their vehicles the G-Box, a device designed by
G-Tech², which observes driving, establishes
benchmarks and helps drivers improve their
behavior at the wheel. This creates a virtuous
circle for the implementation of best practices,
with the targets of lowering fuel consumption and
greenhouse emissions by between 5% and 15%
and reducing the risk of accidents during the
transport of hazardous goods.
Final validation of the system, following the pilot
project, is expected by the end of 2009. A similar
device, this time for company cars, is currently
being tested at the Solvay head offi ce in Brussels.
CC DIA-CPN
> Erwin Tauber; Xavier Bacque; Jaime Ballbe;
Jean-Francois Bastin; Alain Delzenne;
Alain Fromont; Miguel Plaza; external partners:
Juan Castellet; Eric Delsensries; Gaëtan Detroz;
Michael Schaaf; Philippe Virtel.
Solvay Solvay live live - JUILLET - JULY 2009 - 49