Catalytic Reduction in Nitric Acid Plants of N₂O from Adipic Acid

This paper is an account of the measures taken to reduce nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions at BASF Aktiengesellschaft in Ludwigshafen.

The N₂O problem in general and the impact of N₂O on the environment are described.

The integration between the adipic acid plant and the nitric acid (HNO3) plant at Ludwigshafen is the basis for the incorporated N₂O decomposition unit for the off-gas from the adipic acid manufacture.

The last Section describes the testing of N₂O decomposition in nitric acid manufacture and presents the first results.

Gerhard Kuhn, Volker Schumacher and Eckhart Wagner, BASF Aktiengesellschaft, Ludwigshafen, Germany

15 pages, 5 tables, 6 figures.