Clariant Catalysts and KBR Enhance Partnership to Accelerate Low-Carbon Ammonia Production

Clariant, a sustainability-focused specialty chemicals company, announced on July 30, 2024, that it is expanding its strategic cooperation with KBR in ammonia production. Ammonia is crucial for today’s food production and will become increasingly important as a clean energy source in the future. The partners will continue working on traditional ammonia projects while significantly enhancing their focus on low-carbon and carbon-free “green ammonia” applications. The collaboration will combine Clariant’s exceptional AmoMax ammonia synthesis catalysts with KBR’s K-GreeN® ammonia technologies to optimize the economics and energy efficiency of ammonia production. KBR, a leading ammonia process provider with over 75 years of experience, has licensed and designed more than 250 ammonia plants worldwide. Clariant supplies catalysts tailored for the optimal performance of KBR-licensed ammonia plants.

Georg Anfang, Vice President of Syngas and Fuels at Clariant Catalysts, expressed, “We take pride in our long and successful partnership with KBR and are excited to further strengthen our collaboration. By expanding our focus to sustainable ammonia solutions, we create synergies that drive innovations in fertilizer production and support the energy transition. Our cutting-edge catalysts perfectly complement KBR’s advanced process technologies, facilitating the economical and reliable large-scale production of low-carbon and green ammonia.”

For the production of carbon-free green ammonia, KBR’s K-GreeN® technology is paired with Clariant’s AmoMax 10 Plus catalyst to convert green hydrogen with nitrogen from an air separation unit. The catalyst's increased activity maximizes ammonia production and energy efficiency, while its enhanced stability ensures reliable performance despite the typical fluctuations in renewable energy supply. This comprehensive green ammonia solution from the partners has already been chosen for 10 prestigious green ammonia projects worldwide. The expanded collaboration between Clariant and KBR will further accelerate the sustainable energy transition.

The Business Unit Catalysts at Clariant plays a crucial role in enhancing value for its customers by optimizing the use of finite raw materials and energy. This unit is dedicated to improving process quality and yield through its advanced catalytic solutions. The Business Unit operates across several key segments, including Propylene, Specialties, Syngas & Fuels, Ethylene, and Biofuels & Derivatives. By focusing on these areas, Clariant ensures that its customers achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness in their operations. Clariant’s Business Unit Care Chemicals is dedicated to high-margin, low-cyclicality sectors with a significant focus on consumer-facing markets. This unit emphasizes segments such as Personal & Home Care and Consumer Care, alongside Industrial Applications. Clariant's Catalyst Business further extends its expertise across several key areas, including Crop Solutions, Base Chemicals, Oil Services, and Mining Solutions. By concentrating on these highly attractive sectors, Clariant aims to deliver innovative and effective solutions that cater to diverse industry needs while maintaining robust market performance.