MOSCOW (
MRC) -- Essen-based Evonik Industries, a leading specialty chemicals manufacturer, is expanding its promising membrane business, as per the company's statement.
To this end, the specialty chemicals company will further expand its Austrian site in Lenzing/Schorfling to double the existing production capacities for the hollow-fiber membrane modules of its SEPURAN brand. The membrane offers a particularly efficient method for the separation of gases from gas mixtures such as methane, nitrogen, or hydrogen. Evonik is investing an amount in the mid double-digit million euro range in the plant and its infrastructure.
The production of additional membrane modules is projected to begin in late 2017.
"The investment in Austria creates the basis for the further growth of our membrane business in the very attractive market for efficient gas separation. As a technology leader, we want to benefit in an above-average way from the growth in the global gas separation market with our highly selective and productive membranes," said Dr. Ralph Sven Kaufmann, a member of Evonik’s Executive Board and its chief operating officer.
"We aim to expand the biogas membranes business, which has been well-established for five years. At the same time, we see excellent growth opportunities in the market for helium and hydrogen processing as well as for the efficient nitrogen production from air," noted Dr. Claus Rettig, chairman of the Board of Management of Evonik Resource Efficiency GmbH.
Compared to conventional methods such as cryogenic separation, gas separation via membranes is still a new technology. Because of its higher energy efficiency and lower cost, experts project higher growth for gases from membrane-based separation processes than for conventional gas separation. Nitrogen, with a share of more than 40 percent, has the largest market volume in membrane-based gas separation.
The gas separation modules that Evonik produces in Schorfling are primarily intended for the biogas market and for hydrogen and helium extraction. The new hollow fiber spinning plant will be dedicated to the production of membrane modules for efficient gas separation particularly for nitrogen extraction. The nearby Lenzing plant manufactures polyamide, a high-performance polymer, which is spun and then further processed in Schorfling. The infrastructure in Lenzing will be expanded as well.
SEPURAN Green membranes for biogas processing were successfully launched in 2011. Since then, the membrane technology has been consistently developed further; the product range has been supplemented with the SEPURAN Noble membrane for helium and hydrogen processing. A new hollow fiber membrane for efficient nitrogen extraction - SEPURAN N2 - was added to the membrane portfolio in early 2016. Protection against fire and explosion, for example in ship and aircraft tanks, is an important application area for nitrogen.
As MRC
reported earlier, in April 2015, Evonik Industries inaugurated a new application technology center for superabsorbent polymers in Krefeld, Germany. The company invested EUR1 million. The new facility strengthens the position of Evonik as an innovative solutions provider for superabsorbent polymers.
Evonik, the creative industrial group from Germany, is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. Its activities focus on the key megatrends health, nutrition, resource efficiency and globalization. Evonik benefits specifically from its innovative prowess and integrated technology platforms. Evonik is active in over 100 countries around the world.
MRC