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 Media
Invitation
cleaner, more efficient production processes in chemical industry
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Brussels, 14 November 2001
Key words: Safety, chemicals, sustainable development
On 20 November 2001, scientists from selected Community-funded research projects (see below) will showcase some of the concrete results achieved to make the chemical production processes more efficient, while responding to key challenges in the areas of safety and sustainability. Projects presented will illustrate innovative ways to save energy, reduce capital and manufacturing costs, reduce waste and the use of dangerous chemicals. They will also highlight how Europe can build technological and commercial leadership as a result. This event will include interventions by Commissioner Philippe Busquin, and Emilia Franziska Müller MEP, who will address, inter alia, the issue of future research activities of the European Union in the chemical sector. As Commissioner Philippe Busquin points out Research and innovation are fundamental prerequisites to combine economic growth and sustainable development. Reducing the use of natural resource and energy consumption, fostering new processes aiming at zero waste, increasing safety of processes and industrial sites are major challenges which industrial research must confront. Three projects to be showcased The three projects presented to the press will highlight the innovative work done to ensure safer, cleaner, more efficient and environment-friendly production processes for the chemical industry. For example, new reactive separation technologies presented in the INTINT project allows savings of 10% in energy consumption, while eliminating solvents used in conventional processes. In fluopolymers production, new processes implemented in the SUPERPOL project reduce manufacturing costs by 20%. This means estimated total savings of EUR 3.5 million a year in this specific area, with an additional economy of EUR 1 million a year from elimination of waste-water treatment. The ceremony will provide participating journalists with the ideal occasion to improve and strengthen their contacts with key players in the field of European research. All these projects involve strong cross-border partnerships between industry and research centres, bringing together critical mass of expertise and encouraging a multidisciplinary approach. Based on in 'real life' industrial conditions, they open direct perspectives for commercial implementation and contribute to Europe’s competitive edge in a number of key chemical sectors. See ANNEX for details of projects. This event will take place at the Solvay Technology and Research Centre (departure by bus from European Commission Breydel Building). Presentations will be followed by a buffet lunch, with ample opportunities for dialogue with researchers and Commission staff. Following lunch, a visit of the Solvay laboratories, a key partner in Community research and in two of the projects presented, will provide live demonstration of results. Background. One of the most research-intensive sectors, the European chemical industry devotes nearly 6% of its turnover to research and development. It is also one of the key partners in Community research programmes (notably the GROWTH programme on industrial research). In an increasingly competitive environment, chemical producers must simultaneously respond to global commercial pressures and to growing public concerns. Research is thus a crucial tool helping European chemical companies address the two-fold challenge of making Europe more competitive on global markets, while ensuring safety and sustainable development. Research is clearly the key to industry competitiveness. To preserve their competitive edge, EU chemical firms must innovate to reduce inefficiencies and improve on existing processes and products. As a result of its research effort, the chemical industry is one of the fastest growing industrial sectors in Europe (+3.2% a year). It is also the world’s leading chemical producer (one third of global chemical production), a strong contributor to Europe’s balance of payments (EUR 74 billion in 2000), and one of Europe’s main employers (1.7 million jobs in direct employment, i.e. 7% of total manufacturing jobs). Beyond the chemical industry proper, chemical processes are a core activity for a broad spectrum of industrial sectors (pulp and paper, textiles, etc), also involved in Europe’s research efforts. Research is also at the heart of sustainable development. Over the years, Community research has focused on innovative industrial processes with the twin aim of stimulating growth and productivity, while protecting natural resources. This includes reducing inefficiencies in manufacturing processes, as well as minimising waste production, reducing use of dangerous substances, and limiting consumption of energy and natural resources. Recent economic evolutions, and renewed public concerns on the safety of chemical processes and installations, are bringing additional urgency to such efforts. Registration: journalists wishing to attend should contact
Patrick Vittet-Philippe (see below) or register with
For further information related to the event: Online resources: Sustainable industrial production in the chemical industry : safer, cleaner, more efficient chemical processes 20 November 2001 at Solvay Research and Technology Centre, Brussels The chemical industry is one of the most successful and diverse sectors of the manufacturing industry in Europe. It is at the heart of European competitiveness and of sustainable development strategies. The drive towards sustainable technologies in the chemical industry, which give particular emphasis to safety issues, prevention of waste and minimisation of natural resources use, requires a high level of innovation and new technologies. In addition, the design, development and production of chemical products must take increasing account of society’s needs and of the life-cycle implications for producers and consumers.
ANNEX: THREE PROJECTS IN BRIEF PROJECT CHEM: Integrated plant control delivers safer production processes, reduces risks of accidents, pollution. Every year, unpredictable plant shutdowns and other abnormal situations cause huge economic losses, not counting the untold damage caused by serious accidents. The root of many incidents lies in the complexity of control systems and in the difficulty for operators to make the right decision under extreme pressure in a very limited time. Many recent incidents are chilling example of faults that turned into disasters. The aim of the CHEM project is to develop effective decision support software to eliminate such risks, and achieve optimal operating conditions, by greatly simplifying decision-making in refining, chemical and petrochemical operations. The three-year CHEM project is run by an eight nation multidisciplinary consortium, combining the specialist expertise and resources of five industrial companies, five academic institutions and four assistant contractors, as well as those of a number of US and Japanese associate partners. Deliverables include: methodologies (tested in real industrial situation and to be made widely available), toolboxes
('plug in' software modules for existing installations), and full-scale applications (complete software solutions dedicated to specific industrial processes). Project budget: total costs: EUR 6.316 million. EC contribution: EUR 3.776 million. Countries involved: F, S, E, FIN, B, NL, PL + International cooperation with Japan and USA with their own funds PROJECT SUPERPOL: Supercritical fluids clean up polymer manufacturing, herald exciting new uses New production methods employing supercritical fluids - gases subjected to very high pressures - drastically reduce the amount of toxic waste generated in conventional plastic manufacturing. These innovative processes also result in polymers of exceptionally high purity. These 'fluopolymers' are in great demand in many industries (aerospace, semiconductors), and have considerable potential for exciting new applications in the area of nanotechnologies (in particular, medical applications of polymeric nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery). The three-year SUPERPOL project involves four universities, as well as leading European chemical companies Solvay, Goldschmidt and DSM. Beyond ensuring rapid commercial implementation, the project aims at building Europe’s competitive advantage in new markets for these products. 'Companies that can produce the highest grade fluopolymers will control the markets for semiconductors and other applications. The winners will be the companies using (our) technology,' says project co-ordinator Costas Kiparissides. Project budget: total costs: EUR 1.5 million. EC contribution: EUR 1.215 million Countries involved: B, NL, I, EL, D
PROJECT INTINT: New design for integrated chemical plants optimises processes, cuts costs. The chemical, petrochemical and pharmaceutical industries are increasingly dependent on hybrid processes that combine reaction and separation mechanisms into single integrated operations known as
'reactive separation'. Combining these traditionally separate operations in a single production unit brings crucial advantages in energy savings, cost reductions, increased yields and cleaner processes. This 14-member project, including 5 partners from candidate countries, demonstrates how new design for
'column internals' will help transform integrated chemical plants for a wide range of products from vodka to complex pharmaceuticals, putting Europe ahead in the critical area of reactive separation technologies. This new approach and flexible design will favour the entry of SMEs in this area, both as equipment producers and as users of the new design to produce cleaner chemicals faster and more economically. Project budget: total costs: EUR 3.474 million. EC contribution: EUR 1.965 million Countries involved: D, UK, NL, FIN, RO, PL, CH
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