Basic chemicals with reliability and sustainability
We supply membrane quality caustic soda (NaOH) and hydrochloric acid (HCl) to a range of industries. Our chlor alkali products are produced at multiple locations for secure supply. Explore our basic chemicals, including NaOH FA (food additive) grade and low carbon variants (RNE) produced with electricity from renewable sources.
Expertise in chlor alkali products
We employ an advanced membrane technology to produce caustic soda through the electrolysis of sodium chloride. This cutting-edge process ensures a highly efficient and more sustainable production method, aligning with our commitment to sustainable practices.
Our isocyanates production facilities across various Covestro locations generate hydrochloric acid as a valuable by-product. This high-quality product is a versatile compound, which can be utilized in different applications, in which hydrochloric acid with lower impurity levels are needed.
Caustic soda (NaOH) or sodium hydroxide
Our product:
Caustic soda is used in various applications (e.g. pulp & paper, soap & detergents, EV battery).
We are a major caustic soda manufacturer, producing high-quality NaOH in 32% and 50% concentrations. We employ our own in-house chlorine electrolysis at various locations in Germany, and with an oxygen depolarized cathode in Tarragona, Spain, which significantly reduces electricity consumption.
The NaOH FA grade fulfils EU regulations and norms such as EU 231/2012, EU 10/2011, DIN EN 896 for specific food-related applications.
Our NaOH RNE grades with a certified share of renewable electricity are manufactured in our chlorine/caustic soda plants in Leverkusen, Dormagen and Uerdingen which hold ISCC Plus certifications for documenting and allocating renewable electricity to specific products.
Caustic soda applications:
- Technical chemistry: Production of soaps and detergents, dyestuffs, sodium compounds; treatment of drinking water and boiler feed water; regeneration of ion exchange resins
- Aluminum: Production of fused alumina by bauxite pulping
- Pulp & Paper: Soda cellulose and sulfate cellulose production
- Textile: Production of viscose silk (synthetic wool)
- Electrical Vehicles: LiOH production, cathode active materials production
- Various: pH adjusment, alkalization, degreasing, pickling of metal surfaces
Hydrochloric acid (HCl)
Our product:
Hydrochloric acid is an aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride gas dissolved in water. This chemical is used in different applications (e.g. water treatments, steel pickling). Covestro produces HCl with 31% concentration at different locations in Germany and Spain.
Hydrochloric acid applications:
• Water treatment: Production of ferric chloride and aluminum chlorides
• Inorganic chemicals: Calcium chloride, zinc chloride
• Organic chemicals: Metal chlorides, biodiesel
• Mining: Treatment of the ores
• Recycling/Recovery: Phosphor recovery, EV battery recycling
• Agrochemicals: Fertilizers, animal feed
• Various: pH adjustment, neutralization, brine treatment, steel pickling, regeneration of ion exchange resins
Key Benefits
- Reliable: Multiple production facilities worldwide ensure a steady and secure supply.
- Flexible logistics: We offer a range of transport options including truck, rail, barge and vessel.
- Large quantities: Our production scale can meet the needs of major chemical industry players.
- Lower carbon: Specific NaOH, chlorine and HCl grades are ISCC Plus certified, produced by electricity from renewable sources.
- Food-suitable: NaOH FA (food additive) grade fulfils key EU and DIN requirements.
Reducing the CO2 footprint for energy intensive basic chemicals
Basic chemical industries consume large amounts of electricity. This creates a sustainability challenge for all companies in the chemical value chain, and in our own efforts to make Covestro climate neutral in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2035.
Our solution is to supply more sustainable chlorine, caustic soda and hydrogen produced at our Leverkusen, Dormagen and Uerdingen plants which hold ISCC Plus certification. This enables electricity from renewable sources to be allocated to specific products in a transparent and verified way. Integrated chemical production processes combine renewable and circular materials with fossil-derived feedstocks. The International Sustainability and Carbon Certification or ISCC is a system that lays out how to document and allocate the origin of specific materials in on-transport fuels – and how to track them across different value chain partners and processes. It is now emerging as an international standard, and we are pleased to offer guarantees of origin for renewable electricity in basic chemicals.
