DSM is a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials
DSM is a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials. By connecting its unique competencies in Life Sciences and Materials Sciences, DSM is driving economic prosperity, environmental progress and social advances to create sustainable value for all stakeholders.
Stamicarbon is the global market leader in the development and licensing of urea technology. Stamicarbon is the licensing subsidiary of DSM.
Reduction of their ammonia emission by minimum 90%
EU regulation forced Stamicarbon, hence DSM, to reduce their ammonia emission from their urea manufacturing process with at least 90%, or else discontinue manufacturing in Europe.
Breakthrough in ammonia emission abatement
A breakthrough process able to reduce the ammonia emission by 95% and urea dust by 99% was developed.
The process removes the ammonia through adsorption using activated zeolites. Adsorbents are injected into the airstream and separated using a baghouse filter, which also separates urea dust from the airstream. Emissions are reduced by at least 95% while the consumption of ammonia is significantly reduced as well. Global patent awarded.
Different backgrounds and knowledge key to creating new ideas
Using one team with no prior experience in ammonia emission reduction while having another team with significant experience in the area secured radical approaches and fundamentally new ideas. It was also crucial that DSM/Stamicarbon shared all their relevant experience from ten previous R&D attempts that had failed at great expense.
The team with no prior experience in ammonia emission reduction proactively acquired benchmarking from technologies in other industries that internal experts would not look at. The solution was too simple in nature for the internal R&D team to even consider, but it worked better than any internally generated sophisticated solution.