MOSCOW (MRC) -- Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, was distinguished with third place at the GreenTec Awards 2015 in the automobility category for its innovative sunliquid process used in the manufacture of cellulosic ethanol from agricultural residues, as per the company's press release.
Clariant convinced the jury comprised of business, science, associations and media that second generation biofuels based on agricultural residues, such as wheat straw, can not only be manufactured economically and sustainably, but already pass the field test of forward-looking mobility.
New, domestic energy sources are being developed with the manufacture of cellulosic ethanol from agricultural residues. These renewable raw materials accrue regionally, do not compete with food and animal feed, and do not use additional agricultural land.
In Germany, cellulosic ethanol was first subjected as E20 (20 % cellulose ethanol in gasoline) to a fleet test in series cars in 2014 in a cooperation between Clariant, Mercedes-Benz and Haltermann where it impressed in every aspect: compared to the present standard gasoline, no additional consumption was recorded; at the same time it showed ideal combustion characteristics and delivered outstanding engine performance. Particle emissions were reduced by 50 %. In addition, the cellulosic ethanol proportion demonstrated up to 95 % savings in greenhouse gases over the total value chain (well-to-wheel assessment).
As MRC reported previously, last year CB&I and Clariant, announced that their new Ziegler-Natta (ZN) polypropylene catalyst plant in Louisville, Kentucky, was on schedule to begin production in 2015. The plant is part of a long-term strategic partnership between Clariant’s catalysts business and CB&I’s Lummus Novolen Technology business. Based at Clariant’s largest US production hub, the new facility will combine innovative catalysts jointly developed by both companies with high-capacity output.
Clariant AG is a Swiss chemical company and a world leader in the production of specialty chemicals for the textile, printing, mining and metallurgical industries. It is engaged in processing crude oil products in pigments, plastics and paints.
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