A partnership between two global German giants, industrial gas and engineering company Linde and chemical company BASF, has been given an ICIS award for a groundbreaking new catalyst and steam-reforming process which significantly reduces carbon dioxide emissions.
ICIS Best Process winners
Jury member Detlef Kratz, President Process Research and Chemical Engineering at BASF SE, congratulates Nicole Schoedel, Head of Chemical Development & Services at Linde Engineering, and Virginie Lanver, project leader for the development of the SYNSPIRE catalyst at BASF. Image: BASF
ICIS (Independent Chemical Information Service) is the world's largest petrochemical market information provider and each year an expert jury selects the winners of the prestigious Innovation Awards.
Linde and BASF were awarded in the Best Process Innovation category for the application of Linde's DRYREF syngas process in combination with BASF's SYNSPIRE catalyst which enables steam reforming of methane in dryer conditions and the use of CO2 as feedstock. The new process facilitates energy savings and offers an improved CO2 footprint.
"Finding the right balance between profitability, energy efficiency and cutting CO2 emissions is a challenging task in process development", said ICIS Chemical Business Deputy Editor, Will Beacham, who chaired the award judging panel.
"Linde and BASF have collaborated to push the boundaries of chemistry to propose a ground-breaking new catalyst and steam-reforming process with higher efficiency, lower energy demand and a lower CO2 footprint. The judges were also impressed by the teamwork involved in a joint entry and were pleased to be able to give the award to a new process which could have a significant impact on the global chemical industry and CO2 emissions," he continued.
"We are very proud to receive this award as it honours Linde's and BASF's strong commitment to provide more sustainable solutions to its customers", said Klaus Ohlig, Head of Research and Development of Linde Engineering. "With DRYREF and SYNSPIRE, we provide a solution to customers that is both environmentally and commercially attractive."
Detlef Ruff, Senior Vice President Process Catalysts at BASF SE said: "This project is an excellent example of how our broad expertise in catalysis and process research combined with Linde's deep know-how in process technology can drive radical innovation... The common achievement is the result of a long-term collaboration of both companies that required trust, openness, excellent technical skills, long-term vision and readiness to take some risks."
According to the ICIS website, BASF is the ICIS awards lead sponsor.
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