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Carbon Capture and Utilization

Nippon Gases and VERBIO collaborate on CO2 usage

Nippon Gases and VERBIO collaborate on CO2 usage
Nippon Gases Deutschland and VERBIO Ethanol Zörbig partner to capture and utilize carbon dioxide from VERBIO's bioethanol plant (image courtesy Nippon Gases Deutschland).

In Germany, Nippon Gases Deutschland, a European subsidiary of Japan-headed Nippon Sanso Holdings Corporation (NSHD), is set to cooperate with VERBIO Vereinigte BioEnergie AG (VERBIO) to recover biogenic carbon dioxide from bioethanol production.

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To this end, Nippon Gases is investing an undisclosed amount in the construction of a modern plant for the purification and liquefaction of CO2 from the VERBIO Ethanol Zörbig biorefinery and is building a plant in the immediate vicinity for the further processing of the CO2 into dry ice.

The two companies recently signed a corresponding strategic agreement. According to Nippon Gases Deutschland, cooperation with VERBIO is ideal in several respects.

Due to the central location of the site in Germany, on the one hand, we reduce the transport distances for a large part of our clientele. On the other hand, we increase the availability of our products by diversifying our CO2 supply base to sources that are not dependent on the use of natural gas, explained Christian Beck, responsible for the development of the project at Nippon Gases Deutschland.

This offers customers improved security of supply and also benefits the environment. Thanks to the short distance between liquefaction and further processing into dry ice, road transport of liquid CO2 is reduced by up to 380 000 km per year.

With the resulting reduction in CO2 emissions of up to 330 tonnes per year, we are making another important contribution to the sustainability of the entire value chain, Christian Beck added.

Professor Dr Oliver Lüdtke, CTO of VERBIO, is also satisfied with regard to future cooperation with Nippon Gases Deutschland.

In our VERBIO biorefineries, we are continuously optimizing the use of resources, energy efficiency, and CO2 footprint. Already today, the raw materials we use are almost completely recycled in several process stages. Harnessing the CO2 generated in our production is another step towards achieving our self-imposed goal of being CO2 neutral by 2035, Dr Oliver Lüdtke said.

Essential for food preservation

Liquid CO2 and dry ice are used in numerous industries. Among others, the food industry requires CO2 with particularly high requirements in terms of purity and quality.

Because of its very low temperatures, liquid CO2 is ideal for freezing a wide range of foodstuffs.

In gaseous form, it is used in modified atmosphere packaging to prevent premature spoilage of foodstuffs. It is equally important for the beverage industry.

Dry ice, on the other hand, is in high demand as a cooling medium during transport to maintain cold chains.

With a new concept for dry ice production, Nippon Gases offers inclusive working conditions that will promote diversity in the workforce, a cornerstone of its business strategy.

With this commitment, for which we are providing additional financial resources, we are taking concrete action, commented Claudia Eichelsdörfer, HR Director at Nippon Gases Deutschland.

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