Project ID number: GINOP-2.2.1-15-2016-00005
Project title: energy efficient and environmentally friendly neutralisation and recycling of chemical residues
Beneficiary name: BorsodChem Zrt.
Consortium partners:
- University of Miskolc
- Hungarian Development Institute Nonprofit Zrt.
- Bay Zoltán Applied Research Nonprofit Ltd.
- VGSZ Chemical Machinery and Services Ltd.
Total project cost: HUF 3 163 775 016
Amount of aid: HUF 2 029 370 401
Rate of aid (%): 64,14 %
Project completion date: 29.02.2020.
Project summary
BorsodChem Zrt. has started the implementation of the project “Energy efficient and environmentally friendly neutralization and recycling of chemical residues”.
The project, which will result in a more environmentally friendly, energy-efficient and economical process replacing the current technology, which has a higher environmental impact, started on 2 May 2016 and is expected to be completed in 2018.
The aid is financed by the European Regional Development Fund and amounts to HUF 2 039 million, which is non-reimbursable.
The main reason for setting up the new plant, which is part of the investment, is that an EU decision requires the phase-out of mercury cathode brine electrolysis technologies in chlor-alkali production by December 2017. Based on this decision, BorsodChem will replace the mercury cathode brine electrolysis plant and build a new plant in compliance with the new requirements, which will have the advantage of significant electricity savings, resulting in lower CO2 emissions, and the elimination of the use of mercury in chlorine production. Currently, BorsodChem Zrt. uses high specific amounts of chemicals and heat for the decomposition of sodium chlorate in chlorine production, which can be expected to be significantly reduced with the help of a suitable catalyst. This type of technology and catalyst is not available on the market today, and its development requires R&D activities.
The researchers’ task is to find a solution to reduce this pollution by improving the current technological process and developing new technological processes, which are crucial to make the system more economical and efficient. BorsodChem Zrt. has formed a 5-member consortium with the University of Miskolc, the Hungarian Development Institute Nonprofit Zrt., Bay Zoltán Applied Research Nonprofit Ltd. and VGSZ Chemical Machinery and Services Ltd. to carry out joint R&D tasks for the catalytic removal of chlorate, which will result in a patentable process.
The funds won by BorsodChem Zrt. will be used for the construction of a new membrane cell chlorine plant. The successful implementation of the project will result in significant material and energy savings. An unquantifiable benefit of the project is that the lack of a temporary test facility between the laboratory and the large manufacturing plants is currently a major drawback for the Company, which is why it is very useful to have a dedicated research semi-facility where developers can test the processes they are experimenting with on a larger scale, closer to the manufacturing plants. This is important because the results may differ between experiments carried out in a small laboratory and working with larger volumes. In addition, an R&D workshop will be available in the future where in-house and visiting researchers will have the opportunity to work on a number of new technological processes for which it is difficult to incur in-house costs.
During the project, close cooperation between the consortium members will be established, which will benefit not only the current project but also future projects. Regular professional consultations with research institutes will enable engineers working or studying there to further develop their professional skills at BorsodChem Zrt.
The project was supported by the Hungarian State and co-financed by the European Union.
