OCI Global and Röhm announce pioneering production of methyl methacrylate using bio-ammonia
OCI Global, the world’s third largest nitrogen fertilizer and ammonia producer, is supplying Röhm, a leading manufacturer of methacrylates, with bio-ammonia for the production of methyl methacrylate (MMA), an important precursor for PLEXIGLAS - the world’s most popular brand of acrylic glass.
This week, OCI Global delivered a shipment of bio-ammonia to Röhm in a pioneering step to help reduce the carbon footprint of essential and everyday products that rely on MMA, including compounds for cars, airplane windows, building, glazing and dental products. The partnership demonstrates the viability of lower carbon ammonia in industrial processes, supporting downstream decarbonization to other industries and ultimately end consumers.
The delivery of OCI Global’s bio-ammonia to Röhm was witnessed by His Majesty King Willem- Alexander of the Netherlands as part his tour of hydrogen projects in the region, demonstrating the hydrogen corridor connecting Port of Rotterdam to other regions and inland ports, such as duisport, to supply hydrogen products into Europe.
OCI Global is the only producer of ISCC PLUS certified bio-ammonia in Europe and the US today. OCI’s bio-ammonia uses biomethane from waste and residues of biological origin as well as biodegradable fraction of industrial and municipal waste as feedstock. The result is a GHG reduction of >70% compared to conventional grey ammonia production, which uses a fossil-based feedstock.
Ahmed El-Hoshy, CEO, OCI Global said: “OCI is already leading the industry in scaling up the supply of renewable and lower carbon ammonia and methanol at our nine facilities globally, in the US and Europe and, through Fertiglobe, our strategic partnership with ADNOC, the MENA region. This delivery of our bio-ammonia shows our pivotal role in developing the hydrogen corridor to enable the supply of lower carbon ammonia across Europe, from the Port of Rotterdam. Through partnerships with other industry leaders like Röhm, we’re able to continue to make first-moves prove the case for lower carbon products in existing value chains, and we’re excited about the opportunity we have ahead of us to work with other industrial customers to do this. The industrial sector represents around 20% of the global ammonia market today. By converting this sector to lower carbon ammonia, we can help to create a future that allows for the continued production of essential downstream products in a sustainable way.
Hans-Peter Hauck, COO at Röhm said: “Röhm as a global manufacturer of methylmethacrylate products such as PLEXIGLAS is committed to its ambitious climate agenda and targets to achieve a GHG reduction of 30% by 2030. Ammonia is a central feedstock for the manufacture of these methacrylic products such as Plexiglas, Degalan and Degaroute roadmarkings. We therefore are excited to join this partnership and take a significant step towards the decarbonization of our processes and products. A low carbon alternative of ammonia made from biogas allows us to manufacture in our ISCC PLUS certified plants Methacrylate based monomers, molding compounds and resins, in order to deliver sustainable products and solutions for our customers in the industries we serve. We are committed to driving the sustainable transformation forward and are convinced that this change can only be successfully accomplished by partnerships and close cooperation along the value chain”.
OCI and Röhm have shared values around sustainability and breaking new ground in their respective sectors. Earlier this year, OCI Global announced it had begun supplying bio-ammonia in the food and drinks sector, supporting the production of lower carbon wheat and barley malt. OCI is also tripling capacity at its ammonia import terminal in Rotterdam in readiness for increased demand for lower carbon ammonia to support new markets, such as use as a shipping fuel and in the power sector.
Röhm produces MMA at its European sites in Worms and Wesseling as well as in the USA and China. At its Bay City site in Texas, the company is currently building a MMA plant, where it will introduce its new production technology LiMA that will enable the manufacture of methacrylatemonomers with a significantly lower product carbon footprint and improved environmental impact. In addition to new production technologies, Röhm also introduced an environmentally friendly product range “pro Terra” that is based on recycled high-performance materials with a reduced carbon footprint.
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