Revolutionizing Chemical Processes with Innovative Catalysts

Scientists from Tsinghua University in China have developed a new organocatalyst that could reduce the energy consumption of the chlor-alkali process, which generates chlorine and sodium hydroxide. The catalyst, made of relatively cheap organic quinazoline-2,4-diones, could save approximately 1.8-4.6% of the 150TWh consumed by the process each year. However, the catalyst's stability still needs improvement before it can be adopted by the industry. The chlor-alkali process is responsible for more than half of the European chemical industry sales and consumes around 4% of the world's electricity production.