MOSCOW (MRC) -- Evonik Industries and
Linde say that their joint membrane-based technology for natural-gas processing
can efficiently separate hydrogen from natural gas blend at the point of
extraction, according to Chemweek.
The companies say that a demo plant at Linde's Dormagen, Germany, site
will act as a showcase for the efficiency and cost effectiveness of their joint
technology. Further details have not been disclosed.
“The economic
viability of extracting hydrogen from the current natural gas infrastructure
depends largely on the efficiency of the gas separation technology. Membrane
selectivity is a key success factor,” says Harald Schwager, deputy chairman of
Evonik.
The technology, jointly developed by the two companies through a
partnership announced in 2018, combines various technologies to separate the
hydrogen, such as Linde’s pressure swing adsorption technology and Evonik’s
HISELECT membranes, to deliver hydrogen at purity rates of up to 99.99%, they
say.
“This high-purity stream of hydrogen could then be delivered to
fueling stations, for example, to power fuel-cell vehicles. But it’s not just a
source of energy; it’s also a valuable feedstock especially for the chemicals
industry,” says Jurgen Nowicki, executive vice president at Linde and CEO of the
Linde Engineering business.
As MRC reported earlier,
in mid-October, 2020, Linde GmbH and Shell announced an exclusive
collaboration agreement on ethane-oxidative dehydrogenation (E-ODH) technology
for ethylene production. The catalytic process is an alternative route to ethane
steam cracking, offering the potential of economic advantages, acetic acid
co-production and significantly lower overall carbon footprint through
electrification of power input.
Ethylene is the main feedstock for the
production of polyethylene (PE).
According to MRC"s ScanPlast report,
Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 1,594,510 tonnes in the first nine
months of 2020, up by 1% year on year. Only high denstiy polyethylene (HDPE)
shipments increased.
Evonik is one of the world leaders in specialty
chemicals. The focus on more specialty businesses, customer-oriented innovative
prowess and a trustful and performance-oriented corporate culture form the heart
of Evonik’s corporate strategy. They are the lever for profitable growth and a
sustained increase in the value of the company. Evonik benefits specifically
from its customer proximity and leading market positions. Evonik is active in
over 100 countries around the world with more than 36,000 employees. |