New DuPont™ MECS® ZeCor® FAT Tower Allows Nuova Solmine to Outperform Environmental Targets

Prompt development and installation achieve efficient Final Absorption Tower replacement

Wilmington, Del. (PRWeb) October 21, 2019 -- Italian specialty chemicals company, Nuova Solmine, recently completed testing on a new DuPont™ MECS® ZeCor® Final Absorption Tower (FAT), designed and installed by DuPont Clean Technologies, at its double absorption sulfuric acid plant in Scarlino, Italy. The MECS® ZeCor® alloy tower with MECS® UniFlo® Acid distributor and MECS® Brink® SCII Plus mist eliminators performed well below local regulator emissions limits (35 mg/Nm3) and acid mist also measured considerably below contractual performance guarantee (30 mg/Nm3).

With a capacity of approximately 1700 MTPD, Nuova Solmine’s sulfuric acid plant in Scarlino operates 365 days a year, supplying sulfuric acid to Italy, as well as other countries in the Mediterranean basin, as well as Central and South America. By early 2017, the brick lining in the old FAT tower had started to deteriorate and require frequent maintenance, which affected production efficiency. DuPont Clean Technologies was awarded the turnkey contract to design, execute, supply and erect a replacement tower made of lightweight and corrosion-resistant MECS® ZeCor® alloy in July 2017.

“We wanted to replace our old final absorption tower with a highly efficient new tower that would guarantee constant reliable emissions control and not require as much maintenance as the last one did,” said Gabriele Pazzagli, Scarlino Site Manager, Nuova Solmine. “DuPont Clean Technologies could not only offer a performance and mechanical guarantee but also could help us to limit lost production time through a definite delivery and installation schedule.”

From start to finish the complete project took 11 months with the replacement of the old brick-lined tower taking place during a planned plant turnaround in August 2018.

Kirk Schall, Global Business Manager, Acid and Scrubbing Technologies, DuPont Clean Technologies said, “Our aim is to enable our customers to reduce emissions while continuing operations without loss of production time. Our design and engineering teams therefore focus on achieving quality construction, timely delivery and simple installation of reliable and efficient equipment on minimal plot size, as this FAT installation demonstrates. That allows customers like Nuova Solmine to concentrate on their core business with minimal disruption.”

After passing extensive testing, the new MECS® ZeCor® drying tower is performing well with a much lower pressure drop than specified and SO3 acid mist emissions that are well below environmental requirements.

All MECS® ZeCor® alloy towers are custom-built by DuPont Clean Technologies to meet site specific emissions, maintenance, installation and performance objectives. The design is the result of several years of research that have led to improved absorption efficiency, acid distribution and pressure drop. Sulfuric acid plant operators also benefit from a decrease in packing height and low operating costs. More than 100 MECS® ZeCor® alloy towers are currently in operation in sulfuric acid plants around the world.

About DuPont Clean Technologies

The Clean Technologies division of DuPont is a global leader in process technology licensing and engineering, offering critical process equipment, products and services that enable an array of industrial markets, including phosphate fertilizer, nonferrous metals, oil refining, petrochemicals and chemicals, to minimize their environmental impact. We provide extensive global expertise across our portfolio of offerings in key applications – MECS® sulfuric acid production, STRATCO® alkylation, BELCO® wet scrubbing, and IsoTherming® hydroprocessing. We are dedicated to helping our customers produce high-quality products used in everyday life in the safest, most environmentally sound way possible, with a vision to make the world a better place by creating clean alternatives to traditional industrial processes. We make everyday life better, safer, cleaner. To learn more about the Clean Technologies division, please visit http://www.cleantechnologies.dupont.com.

About DuPont

DuPont (NYSE: DD) is a global innovation leader with technology-based materials, ingredients and solutions that help transform industries and everyday life. Our employees apply diverse science and expertise to help customers advance their best ideas and deliver essential innovations in key markets including electronics, transportation, construction, water, health and wellness, food, and worker safety. More information can be found at http://www.dupont.com.

Contact Information:
Richard Martinez
DuPont
http://cleantechnologies.dupont.com/
+33-6-86497164

John C. Burk
DuPont
http://cleantechnologies.dupont.com/
+1-314-275-5845