New Bright Red Oxide Pigments with High Chromaticity to be produced in China

One highlight at the European Coatings Show was the presentation of the bright red pigments with particularly high chromaticity, which will be produced in Ningbo, China, starting in early 2016. A test reactor in Krefeld-Uerdingen, Germany, is already producing the new grades for testing purposes. The Penniman process using nitric acid is widely used in China for the production of iron oxide red pigments. On account of its formation of gaseous nitrogen oxides (NOx), as well as soluble nitrate and ammonium compounds, the process is a major challenge from an ecological perspective. While developing an innovative and more sustainable Penniman red process, it was discovered that apart from the known nitrogen oxide emissions, significant quantities of nitrous oxide (N2O) are also generated. The impact of nitrous oxide as a critical greenhouse gas is 300 times greater than that of CO2. Thanks to comprehensive scrubbing of off-gas streams containing NOx and N2O as well as efficient biological treatment of waste-water contaminated with ammonium and nitrates, the updated Penniman red process developed by LANXESS sets new standards in the iron oxide industry. The Inorganic Pigments business unit (IPG) at LANXESS will employ this exceptionally sustainable technology in its new iron oxide production facility in China.