Chlorine production: Switch to membrane technology

Commissioning the second membrane electrolysis plant in April 2015 completed the transition of chlorine production to the modern, ecologically sound membrane technology. Using this technology enables a reduction of CO₂ emissions by 140,000 tonnes annually from May 2015 onward. Having finished this investment project, we were able to comply with the EU requirement to decommission facilities using the mercury cell process nearly three years early. Our first membrane electrolysis plant has been operational since 2010.

Principal

PCC Rokita SA

Location

Factory site of PCC Rokita SA in Brzeg Dolny (Poland)

Commissioning

Part 1: March 2010 / Part 2: April 2015

Project description

The commissioning of our new chlor-alkali electrolysis was completed in April 2015 with the full technology transition to the environmentally friendly membrane process. With this conversion, we not only fulfilled future environmental requirements early but also significantly expanded the capacity of our plants in parallel; electricity consumption was considerably reduced. Compared to the conventional amalgam process, we have since saved 750 kilograms of CO2 per ton of caustic soda produced. In July 2015, PCC Rokita SA further increased chlorine production capacity as planned. For this purpose, a fifth electrolyzer was added to the new membrane electrolysis plant, thus completing the final stage of expansion of the new chlor-alkali electrolysis for the time being. In 2016 and 2017, scheduled process optimizations followed. In total, PCC Rokita SA increased the annual capacity of chlorine production by an additional 10% to 148,000 tons of chlorine or 167,000 tons of caustic soda.

Project status