Chlor-alkali Enterprises under the Vision of Carbon Neutralization

Chlor-alkali industry is a traditional basic chemical raw material industry and occupies a very important position in the national economy. The chlor-alkali industry produces caustic soda (sodium hydroxide), chlorine and hydrogen by electrolysis of saturated salt solution. The industrial chain also includes calcium carbide (calcium carbide), hydrochloric acid, PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and bleaching powder. These products have high economic extension value, are widely used in light industry, chemical industry, textile, building materials, agriculture, electricity, electronics, national defense, military, metallurgy and food processing, new energy, high-end equipment manufacturing, new materials and other sectors of the national economy. The development of chlor-alkali industry has driven and promoted the rapid development of a large number of related industries, which is of great significance to the development of the national economy.

However, the chlor-alkali industry also has serious problems. First of all, energy consumption is great, water and electricity consumption is very large, the power consumption of chlor-alkali production is second only to electrolytic aluminum. According to the current domestic production level in China, the production of 1 ton of 100% caustic soda consumes 2400 kilowatt-hours and 3 tons of steam. The power supply and electricity price have a great impact on the production cost of chlor-alkali. In addition, corrosion and pollution is serious in chlor-alkali industrial production, and caustic soda, hydrochloric acid, calcium carbide, chlorine and hydrogen have great risks, which may pollute the ecological environment and affect human health. Therefore, the sustainable development of chlor-alkali industry has important practical significance for human economic and social development.

In 2022, “Peak Carbon Dioxide Emissions, Carbon Neutralization” has been written into the Chinese government’s annual work report many times. The double-carbon policy is closely related to the goal of sustainable development in China. The term “carbon” in these two concepts actually refers to carbon dioxide, especially carbon dioxide produced in human production and life. “Peak Carbon Dioxide Emissions” means that the total carbon dioxide emissions reach a historical peak in a certain period of time, during which the total carbon emissions will still fluctuate, but the overall trend is gentle, and then the total carbon emissions will gradually decline steadily. “Carbon neutralization” means the total amount of carbon dioxide emissions directly or indirectly produced by enterprises, groups or individuals in a certain period of time. Through carbon dioxide removal means, such as energy conservation and emission reduction, industrial adjustment, afforestation, etc., this part of carbon emissions is offset to achieve the purpose of “net zero emission”.

Under the vision of carbon neutrality, chlor-alkali enterprises shoulder the mission of green and low-carbon development in the chemical industry. Against the background of stricter energy conservation, tighter emission reduction and high environmental protection pressure, the equipment capacity, skills and environmental protection technology of chlor-alkali industry are increasing day by day. Relying on R&D and technological reform, the chlor-alkali industry is promoting technological progress and developing towards low-carbon and environmental protection, low energy consumption and large-scale benefits. At present, the supply manufacturers cooperated with our company are developing towards the green environmental protection industry chain. Zhongtai Chemical has a complete circular economy industry chain of coal → thermoelectricity → chlor-alkali chemical industry → viscose fiber → viscose yarn upstream and downstream integration. Xinjiang Tianye has also formed a relatively complete green environment-friendly circular economy industry chain of “self-provided power → calcium carbide → polyvinyl chloride resin and by-products → calcium carbide slag and other waste to cement”. Beiyuan Group relies on scientific and technological progress to take the road of innovative low-carbon cycle development, and in combination with the abundant local raw salt resources, it develops the coal-salt chemical industry chain with coal and raw salt as the main line, leading the local enterprises to take the road of circular sustainable development, driving the local coal enterprises to move forward from extensive resource exploitation to deep processing of resources, and effectively practicing the concept of circular low carbon development.

In the process of chlor-alkali production, caustic soda, chlorine and hydrogen will be produced at the same time. According to the requirements of “Peak Carbon Dioxide Emissions, Carbon Neutralizatio”, through technological innovation, hydrogen will be transformed into hydrogen energy. Chlor-alkali enterprises will explore a new mode of chlor-alkali-hydrogen energy-green electricity self-use, continuously intensify the development of new energy materials, and realize green emission reduction throughout the production life cycle.