|
Chlor-Alkali Industry welcomes European legislation on mercury export ban and safe storage
Brussels, September 26th, 2008. Euro Chlor, the Brussels based federation representing the interests of the European Chlor-Alkali industry, welcomes the new European legislation on mercury ban and safe storage. After the export banning, taking effect in March 2011, surplus liquid mercury would be removed from decommissioned chlorine plants, transported to its final destination in approved sealed steel containers and stored in deep underground salt mines. These mines typically have no humidity, an environment which excludes corrosion and assures a sound, final disposal. The Commission will develop the specific technical criteria the locations will have to meet, as well as rigorous safety requirements to be observed at the sites. Chlor-Alkali Industry has extensive experience in the handling and storage of mercury and welcomes the adopted solution as an environmentally sound option which can be realised at an acceptable cost. Euro Chlor voluntary agreementsDecember 14th, 2007, Euro Chlor and its member companies signed the "Euro Chlor Voluntary Agreement on safe storage of decommissioned mercury". The Chlor-Alkali Industry had indeed decided that any excess mercury in their possession (that is: all mercury not required for the future operation of mercury cell process based plants) would be forwarded to safe storage sites. This means geologically stable underground salt mines defined and classified for the disposal of hazardous waste under European regulation. Euro Chlor and its members continue implementing a long standing voluntary agreement on the gradual conversion to membrane technology. The final phase out for the chlor-alkali production should be completed by 2020. In 2007, the more energy-efficient membrane technology accounted for 43% of total capacity, becoming the major production method for chlor-alkali, mercury cell technology only accounting for 38%, a figure decreasing year after year. Less than 9,000 tonnes of liquid mercury are remaining in European chlorine plants today. The role of mercury in Chlor-Alkali productionMercury, a pure liquid metal, sits safely in the electrolysis cells where it acts as the negative electrode (also named cathode) in the electrolysis process whereby chlorine, caustic soda and hydrogen are made by passing an electric current through a concentrated brine solution. When a chlorine production plant is shut down or converted to the more energy-efficient membrane technology, mercury is removed from the electrolysis cells and the plant's piping to be permanently stored in sealed containers. Read more on the European Chlor-Alkali industry in the new Chlorine Industry Review, on http://www.eurochlor.org/Review2008 Further information:Alistair J Steel, Executive Director Footnote to EditorsEuro Chlor is a Brussels-based business association representing chlor-alkali producers in the EU and EFTA regions employing about 39,000 people at 69 manufacturing locations. Almost 2,000,000 jobs in Europe are directly or indirectly related to chlorine and its co-product caustic soda (sodium hydroxide).More than 21 million tonnes of these two key chemical building blocks are produced yearly. They underpin 55% of European chemical industry turnover (2006: € 665,687 million). Chlorine and caustic soda are essential to economic and social welfare and are used in a variety of products, e.g. plastics, medicine and pharmaceuticals, disinfectants, clothing, building materials etc. To return to news click here |