Transport Safety for Nitric Acid by Road and Rail

Keywords: Nitrous oxide, Nitric acid, Adipic acid, Nitrous oxide decomposition, Nitrous oxide catalyst. Nitric acid, Transport safety, Responsible care.

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

15pages, 5 tables, 6 figures.

Transport Safety for Nitric Acid by Road and Rail.

CEFIC the European Chemical Industry Council requires in their interpretation of the RESPONSIBLE CARE Program that chemical companies demonstrate their commitment to continuously improve all aspects of performance which relate to the protection of Health, Safety and the Environment.

The RESPONSIBLE CARE initiative aims on areas of public concern and is therefore split into six parts:

– dialogue (with employees and the public).

– process safety.

– pollution prevention.

– employee health and safety.

– product stewardship.

– distribution safety.

Since this paper specifically considers the transport of nitric acid, its focus will be on the last of these: distribution safety.

Gudrun Grunenberg, Karl Grimmer and Dr. Volker Schumacher, BASF Aktiengesellschaft, Ludwigshafen, Germany

19 pages, 1 table, 7 figures.