Page 64 - Catalysing Chemicals WIP (Version 2.0) FINAL ARTWORK.cdr

Air Pollution Challenge

The Conference of Parties (COP21) • To achieve sustainable urban-
protocol has estimated that India accounts transport, the Government
for about 4% of all global emissions. has launched several initiatives,
which the automotive sector
is struggling to deliver:
Being a responsible
- National Urban Transport Policy
global citizen, India (NUTP) supports the design of
innovative sustainable urban
has committed to transport systems.
reduce its carbon - Government has announced
footprint by 33-35% an ambitious plan to move
completely to Electric Vehicles by 2030.
by 2030.
- Advancing the plan for meeting
stricter emission norms,
Government has set a target
• Achieving this reduction requires for Automotive Manufacturers
a multi pronged effort – from to move to BSVI norms by 2020.
diversifying power generation to
- In the past, countries have taken
renewable sources to reducing about 5 to 6 years each to make
vehicular emissions to controlling the shift from Euro 4 to Euro
industrial & construction 5 and then to Euro 6. India’s
pollution.
automotive sector is attempting
• By 2025, India will need 175 to implement in 4 years, what has
gigawatt- power production globally been achieved in 10 to 12 years.
capacity from non-fossil fuel
sources. India also needs to - the unalterable inverse relationship
increase its forest cover to between NOx emissions and fuel
absorb 2.5-3 gigatonnes of efficiency of combustion engines
multiplies the challenge multifold
carbon from the atmosphere.
The Catalysts

• Achieving BSVI norms will from ceramic materials such
require improvement of input as titanium oxide. The active
fuels and processing waste catalytic components are usually
outputs from the engine. either oxides of base metals or
precious metals. Another catalyst,
• Selective Catalytic Reduction is based on activated carbon, helps
possible with catalysts made
remove NOx at low temperatures.

Covestro :
Towards Sustainable Growth – Reducing Industrial Air Pollution

Covestro has been at the forefront of exploring ways to convert the CO into a useful raw material,
2
contribute to environment protection and save scarce natural resources. For over a year now, Covestro
has been using carbon dioxide to produce a precursor for flexible foam. With upto 20% chemically
bound CO2, this product is helping them save huge amounts of petroleum.

The company is also researching additional areas of application for CO -based raw materials. Covestro
2
is leading a consortium of 14 partners from seven countries to explore the use of CO and other waste
2
gases from steel industry to produce inputs for insulating materials and coatings.

60 Chemistry Everywhere
In Pursuit of Sustainable Development