Dormagen, Germany — Covestro has opened its first commercial-scale carbon dioxide (CO2) to polycarbonate polyol plant. The final polyols contain 20% carbon dioxide "as much as is possible", according to ceo, Patrick Thomas.
The plant with capacity of 5 kT/year uses a process, which Thomas said is: "Not just more environmentally compatible than conventional production technologies. Most importantly — it helps us conserve the scarce resource petroleum and expands our resource base."
Thomas added that his firm had invested EUR 15m ($ 17m) in the process. He thanked the external scientists who helped with the fundamental research that make the process possible: "Professor Schmachtenberg, you deserve our thanks for fruitful collaboration on the scientific level. RWTH and Covestro jointly operate the CAT Catalytic Center, a research institute in Aachen that attracts scientists from all over the world. The Center’s experts and our own researchers achieved the scientific breakthrough that first made the efficient use of CO2 in plastics production possible."
The polyols are being marketed under the cardyon brand.
Currency Translation: XE.com
