LEVERKUSEN (Commodity Online): In a bid to improve efficiency and environment compatibility, the German specialty chemicals maker, Lanxess has started a new on-site power plant based on a fibrous component of left over after sugar production.

The plant, which is located in Porto Feliz in Brazil, will increase the efficiency and environmental compatibility of the on-site production of iron oxide pigments, which are marketed globally as Bayferrox and regionally as Po Xadrez.

The innovative, highly efficient cogeneration plant for the production of electricity and steam has a capacity of 4.5 MW and achieves an efficiency of up to 90 percent.

It is powered by bagasse, a fibrous component of sugar cane that is left over after sugar production. Thanks to the use of this renewable, environmentally friendly raw material, energy can be produced on a CO2-neutral basis. The amount of CO2 released is exactly the same as that previously absorbed by the sugar cane crops during growth.

The project, which was launched in 2008 and cost around EUR 8 million, was completed as planned notwithstanding the global economic crisis. The start-up of the new cogeneration plant is enabling the company to cut CO2 emissions at the site significantly. Annual climate gas emissions will be around 44,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalents less than in 2002.



Lanxess’ Inorganic Pigments business unit is thus documenting its commitment to sustainable and environmentally friendly process technology. "The deployment of resource-conserving, environmentally production processes is an important part of our global sustainability strategy, and the new power plant in Porto Feliz is another decisive milestone," says Joerg Hellwig, head of the Inorganic Pigments business unit.

"For us, economic and ecological sustainability go hand in hand. For example, we comply with the latest safety standards at all our sites. We avoid emissions whenever we can or, if this is impossible, we neutralize them. At the same time we want to supply our customers with added value. We want to be a reliable partner for them and enable them to manage their business sustainably too. This is our business philosophy for long-term success."

Lanxess’ Inorganic Pigments business unit is one of the world's leading manufacturers of inorganic pigments, with a broad and innovative product range and high technical competence and consulting expertise. The largest iron oxide production plant in the world is in operation at the main site in Krefeld-Uerdingen in Germany.

Lanxess is a leader in specialty chemicals with sales in 2007 of EUR 6.61 billion and currently around 15,200 employees in 21 countries. The company is represented at 44 production sites worldwide. Lanxess’ core business comprises the development, manufacture and sale of plastics, rubber, intermediates and specialty chemicals.

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