EPICEROL^®: An innovative environmental breakthrough in Epichlorohydrin production

Epicerol^® is a novel process developed by Solvay, based on the transformation of glycerine, which is a renewable by-product of the biodiesel industry. After a successful start-up in April 2007, this process with greatly enhanced environmental performance is under optimization in Tavaux, France, in an industrial plant fed with glycerine derived from rapeseed oil.

The novel technology is based on using a totally different feedstock compared to the traditional Epichlorohydrin process, which uses Chlorine and Propylene as the raw materials.  EPICEROL^® technology is based on using Hydrochloric Acid, a universally available product, and Glycerine, a common by-product from the booming Biodiesel industry. Solvay has reached an agreement with DIESTER, the leading Biodiesel Company in France, and has secured a long term contract for the supply of Glycerine.

The Glycerine based process was published in an earlier scientific literature and Solvay developed it further into an industrialized process by creating a new class of catalyst, amongst other innovations.

Solvay has 22 patent applications to cover the EPICEROL^® technology.

Main advantages of EPICEROL^®

Besides the very modular process, compared with the former one, there are a number of environmental advantages:

1. A large reduction in Chlorine consumption and consequently, less chlorinated organic compounds as by-products
2. Lesser need for effluent streams
3. Non toxic or flammable basic materials
4. Process based on renewable materials

Solvay goes green thanks to EPICEROL^®!

Development of this innovative Glycerine based process for the production of Epichlorohydrin started in mid 2003.  After successful trials in the Neder Over Hembeek Research & Technologies laboratory, a pilot plant was installed and trialed in Tavaux.