AkzoNobel plans membrane electrolysis joint venture with Evonik at German site

摘要

EVONIK Industries and AkzoNobel are in talks to build a membrane electrolysis facility at AkzoNobel's site in Ibbenbiiren (Germany). The plan is to establish a joint venture for the construction and shared operation of an electrolysis facility for potassium hydroxide solution and chlorine. The negotiations are expected to be finalised by the end of 2014. EU laws stipulate that the production of potassium hydroxide solutions with the current mercury electrolysis technology must be phased out by 2018. The new membrane electrolysis will replace this procedure with an environmentally-friendly and sustainable method. "This investment would allow us to reliably supply our customers with our potassium hydroxide solutions in the long term," explained Mr. Gregor Hetzke, Head of Evonik's advanced intermediates business. "At the same time, it would make an important contribution to the environmentally-friendly and sustainable production of potassium hydroxide solutions.