The Portuguese chemical company Bondalti has commissioned a new chlor-alkali production facility in Estarreja, Portugal. At its core are nine electrolysers from Asahi Kasei, including a test system designed to improve efficiency. The goal is to enable more resource-efficient production.
Bondalti Chemicals has commissioned a new chlor-alkali plant at its Estarreja site. The facility was built by the German plant engineering company CAC Engineering and uses electrolysers from the Japanese technology company Asahi Kasei. A total of nine systems were installed, one of which serves as a test unit for next-generation components.
The new facility was co-financed under Portugal’s Recovery and Resilience Plan. It is intended to significantly increase the energy efficiency of chlor-alkali production and support Bondalti in implementing its decarbonisation strategy. Chlor-alkali electrolysis separates concentrated brine into chlorine, caustic soda and hydrogen – substances that are used in numerous chemical processes.
Test system with new membranes and electrodes
The test electrolyser is equipped with ion exchange membranes and electrodes from Asahi Kasei, which, according to the company, offer higher performance than conventional components. The aim is to improve the environmental performance of the electrolysers by reducing electricity consumption and optimising resource use. The cells and electrodes used are to be recycled after testing and reused for new components.
“This success is a strategic milestone in Bondalti’s commitment to sustainable innovation and operational excellence,” says David Lopes, Director at Bondalti. Yoshifumi Kado, Senior General Manager at Asahi Kasei, adds: “By combining Asahi Kasei’s comprehensive system expertise with CAC’s advanced engineering and Bondalti’s practical knowledge, these three key players will continue to push the boundaries of the European chlor-alkali industry.”
Long-standing partnership between CAC and Asahi Kasei
The integration of the new electrolysers took place during ongoing operations. Mike Niederstadt, COO of CAC Engineering, emphasises the technical challenge and refers to the more than 25-year collaboration with Asahi Kasei and the eight-year project partnership with Bondalti. CAC has built more than 500 industrial plants worldwide and specialises in chlor-alkali, power-to-X and chemical processes.
Asahi Kasei contributes more than 50 years of experience in the development and production of electrolysis systems. In addition to hardware, the company also offers software analysis services and operates metal recycling.
