Eco-profiles of the
European Plastics Industry
HYDROGEN CHLORIDE
A report by
I Boustead
for
PlasticsEurope
Data last calculated
March 2005
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IMPORTANT NOTE
Before using the data contained in this report, you are strongly
recommended to look at the following documents:
1. Methodology
This provides information about the analysis technique used
and gives advice on the meaning of the results.
2. Data sources
This gives information about the number of plants examined,
the date when the data were collected and information about
up-stream operations.
In addition, you can also download data sets for most of the
upstream operations used in this report. All of these documents
can be found at: www.plasticseurope.org.
PlasticsEurope may be contacted at
Ave E van Nieuwenhuyse 4
Box 3
B-1160 Brussels
Telephone: 32-2-672-8259
Fax: 32-2-675-3935
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CONTENTS
HYDROGEN CHLORIDE...........................................................................................................4
ECO-PROFILE OF HYDROGEN CHLORIDE.......................................................................4
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HYDROGEN CHLORIDE
Hydrogen chloride (HCl) is obtained from two sources:
1. The direct reaction between hydrogen and chlorine gases. This is a strongly
exothermic reaction and the temperature of the reaction chamber must be
carefully monitored.
2. As a by-product in the production of many chlorinated hydrocarbons and
intermediates. It has been variously estimated that probably as much as 90%
of all hydrogen chloride arises from this source
Irrespective of the source, the gas is invariably purified before use.
Hydrogen chloride is readily soluble in water, when it is often referred to as
hydrochloric acid.
ECO-PROFILE OF HYDROGEN CHLORIDE
Data are based on one plant directly reacting hydrogen with chlorine and two
plants separating by-product HCl. (Note that frequently when HCl is generated
and re-used within the same plant, it is seldom possible to separate the HCl
recovery and purification process from the rest of the plant.)
Table 1 shows the gross or cumulative energy to produce 1 kg of purified
hydrogen chloride and Table 2 gives this same data expressed in terms of
primary fuels. Table 3 shows the energy data expressed as masses of fuels.
Table 4 shows the raw materials requirements and Table 5 shows the demand
for water. Table 6 shows the gross air emissions and Table 7 shows the
corresponding carbon dioxide equivalents of these air emissions. Table 8 shows
the emissions to water. Table 9 shows the solid waste generated and Table 10
gives the solid waste in EU format.
Table 1
Gross energy required to produce 1 kg of purified hydrogen chloride. (Totals
may not agree because of rounding)
Fuel type
Fuel prod'n
Energy content
Energy use
Feedstock
Total
& delivery
of delivered
in
energy
energy
energy
fuel
transport
(MJ)
(MJ)
(MJ)
(MJ)
(MJ)
Electricity
7.55
3.57
0.09
-
11.21
Oil fuels
0.13
1.96
0.03
2.83
4.95
Other fuels
0.43
8.55
0.03
1.34
10.36
Totals
8.11
14.08
0.16
4.17
26.52
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Table 2
Gross primary fuels required to produce 1 kg of purified hydrogen chloride.
(Totals may not agree because of rounding)
Fuel type
Fuel prod'n
Energy content
Fuel use
Feedstock
Total
& delivery
of delivered
in
energy
energy
energy
fuel
transport
(MJ)
(MJ)
(MJ)
(MJ)
(MJ)
Coal
2.24
1.99
0.01
<0.01
4.24
Oil
0.63
2.21
0.12
2.83
5.79
Gas
1.76
8.13
0.01
1.33
11.23
Hydro
0.30
0.16
<0.01
-
0.45
Nuclear
2.98
1.43
0.01
-
4.42
Lignite
0.02
0.01
<0.01
-
0.02
Wood
<0.01
<0.01
<0.01
<0.01
<0.01
Sulphur
<0.01
<0.01
<0.01
<0.01
<0.01
0.02
0.01
<0.01
<0.01
0.04
Hydrogen
<0.01
0.24
<0.01
-
0.24
Recovered energy
<0.01
-0.17
<0.01
-
-0.17
Unspecified
<0.01
<0.01
<0.01
-
<0.01
Peat
<0.01
<0.01
<0.01
-
<0.01
0.05
0.03
<0.01
-
0.08
Solar
<0.01
<0.01
<0.01
-
<0.01
Wave/tidal
Biomass (solid)
Geothermal
<0.01
<0.01
<0.01
-
<0.01
Biomass (liquid/gas)
0.04
0.02
<0.01
-
0.06
Industrial waste
0.02
0.01
<0.01
-
0.03
Municipal Waste
0.04
0.02
<0.01
-
0.06
Wind
0.02
0.01
<0.01
-
0.03
Totals
8.11
14.08
0.16
4.17
26.52
Table 3
Gross primary fuels used to
produce 1 kg of purified
hydrogen chloride expressed as
mass.
Fuel type
Input in mg
Crude oil
130000
Gas/condensate
210000
Coal
150000
Metallurgical coal
Lignite
46
1500
Peat
46
Wood
430
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Table 4
Gross raw materials required to produce 1
kg of purified hydrogen chloride.
Raw material
Air
Animal matter
Barytes
Bauxite
Bentonite
Biomass (including water)
Calcium sulphate (CaSO4)
Chalk (CaCO3)
Clay
Cr
Cu
Dolomite
Fe
Feldspar
Ferromanganese
Fluorspar
Granite
Gravel
Hg
Limestone (CaCO3)
Mg
N2
Ni
O2
Olivine
Pb
Phosphate as P2O5
Potassium chloride (KCl)
Quartz (SiO2)
Rutile
S (bonded)
S (elemental)
Sand (SiO2)
Shale
Sodium chloride (NaCl)
Sodium nitrate (NaNO3)
Talc
Unspecified
Zn
Input in mg
90000
<1
450
24
4
11000
<1
<1
5
<1
<1
39
110
1
<1
1
<1
<1
2
9400
<1
49000
<1
31000
1
1
<1
3100
<1
<1
<1
450
250
1
1100000
<1
<1
<1
<1
Table 5
Gross water consumption required for the production of 1 kg
of purified hydrogen chloride. (Totals may not agree
because of rounding)
Source
Public supply
River canal
Sea
Well
Unspecified
Totals
hcl
Use for
processing
(mg)
3100000
1300000
25000
290000
2200000
6900000
Use for
cooling
(mg)
6300000
44000000
40000
11000000
61000000
6
Totals
(mg)
3100000
7600000
44000000
330000
13000000
68000000
Table 6
Gross air emissions associated with the production of 1 kg of purified hydrogen
chloride. (Totals may not agree because of rounding)
Emission
dust (PM10)
CO
CO2
SOX as SO2
H2S
mercaptan
NOX as NO2
NH3
Cl2
HCl
F2
HF
hydrocarbons not specified
aldehyde (-CHO)
organics
Pb+compounds as Pb
Hg+compounds as Hg
metals not specified elsewhere
H2SO4
N2O
H2
dichloroethane (DCE) C2H4Cl2
vinyl chloride monomer (VCM)
CFC/HCFC/HFC not specified
organo-chlorine not specified
HCN
CH4
aromatic HC not specified
polycyclic hydrocarbons (PAH)
NMVOC
CS2
methylene chloride CH2Cl2
Cu+compounds as Cu
As+compounds as As
Cd+compounds as Cd
Ag+compounds as Ag
Zn+compounds as Zn
Cr+compounds as Cr
Se+compounds as Se
Ni+compounds as Ni
Sb+compounds as Sb
ethylene C2H4
oxygen
asbestos
dioxin/furan as Teq
benzene C6H6
toluene C7H8
xylenes C8H10
ethylbenzene C8H10
styrene
propylene
hcl
From
fuel prod'n
(mg)
390
1100
530000
2800
<1
<1
1400
<1
<1
62
<1
2
560
<1
<1
<1
<1
1
<1
<1
67
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
11000
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
-
From
fuel use
(mg)
140
510
600000
1900
<1
1800
<1
15
<1
1
330
<1
<1
1
<1
<1
310
<1
<1
<1
<1
-
7
From
transport
(mg)
2
20
4500
52
<1
<1
35
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
10
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
-
From
process
(mg)
100
1200
42000
80
<1
<1
45
2
380
12
<1
<1
190
<1
30
<1
<1
<1
1
<1
2100
2
1
20
54
<1
200
3
<1
1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
From
biomass
(mg)
-390
-
From
fugitive
(mg)
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
-
Totals
(mg)
640
2800
1200000
4800
<1
<1
3300
2
380
89
<1
3
1100
<1
30
<1
<1
2
1
<1
2200
2
1
20
54
<1
12000
3
<1
1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
Table 7
Carbon dioxide equivalents corresponding to the gross air emissions for the
production of 1 kg of purified hydrogen chloride. (Totals may not agree
because of rounding)
Type
From
From
From
From
From
From
fuel prod'n
fuel use
transport
process
biomass
fugitive
Totals
(mg)
(mg)
(mg)
(mg)
(mg)
(mg)
(mg)
20 year equiv
1200000
620000
4600
57000
-390
<1
1900000
100 year equiv
790000
610000
4600
50000
-390
<1
1500000
500 year equiv
610000
600000
4600
46000
-390
<1
1300000
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Table 8
Gross emissions to water arising from the production of 1 kg of purified
hydrogen chloride. (Totals may not agree because of rounding).
Emission
From
fuel prod'n
(mg)
COD
2
BOD
<1
Pb+compounds as Pb
<1
Fe+compounds as Fe
<1
Na+compounds as Na
<1
acid as H+
2
NO3<1
Hg+compounds as Hg
<1
metals not specified elsewhere
<1
ammonium compounds as NH4+
2
Cl<1
CN<1
F<1
S+sulphides as S
<1
dissolved organics (non<1
suspended solids
38
detergent/oil
<1
hydrocarbons not specified
<1
organo-chlorine not specified
<1
dissolved chlorine
<1
phenols
<1
dissolved solids not specified
<1
P+compounds as P
<1
other nitrogen as N
<1
other organics not specified
<1
SO4-<1
dichloroethane (DCE)
<1
vinyl chloride monomer (VCM)
<1
K+compounds as K
<1
Ca+compounds as Ca
<1
Mg+compounds as Mg
<1
Cr+compounds as Cr
<1
ClO3-<1
BrO3-<1
TOC
<1
AOX
<1
Al+compounds as Al
<1
Zn+compounds as Zn
<1
Cu+compounds as Cu
<1
Ni+compounds as Ni
<1
CO3-As+compounds as As
Cd+compounds as Cd
Mn+compounds as Mn
organo-tin as Sn
Sr+compounds as Sr
organo-silicon
benzene
dioxin/furan as Teq
-
hcl
From
fuel use
(mg)
1
-
9
From
transport
(mg)
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
3
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
From
process
(mg)
230
28
<1
21
61000
11
100
<1
13
17
98000
<1
<1
8
10
2000
<1
1
1
1
<1
9100
<1
14
2
3900
<1
<1
97
840
5
<1
120
<1
29
<1
<1
1
<1
<1
99
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
Totals
(mg)
230
28
<1
21
61000
12
100
<1
13
19
98000
<1
<1
8
11
2100
<1
2
1
1
<1
9100
1
14
2
3900
<1
<1
97
840
5
<1
120
<1
29
<1
<1
1
<1
<1
99
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
Table 9
Gross solid waste associated with the production of 1 kg of purified hydrogen
chloride. (Totals may not agree because of rounding)
Emission
From
From
From
From
fuel prod'n
fuel use
transport
process
Totals
(mg)
(mg)
(mg)
(mg)
(mg)
Plastic containers
<1
-
<1
<1
<1
Paper
<1
-
<1
1
1
Plastics
<1
-
<1
130
130
Metals
<1
-
<1
<1
<1
Putrescibles
<1
-
<1
<1
<1
560
-
<1
<1
560
Unspecified refuse
Mineral waste
390
-
33
4700
5100
Slags & ash
9700
1500
13
2600
14000
Mixed industrial
-860
-
1
2400
1500
Regulated chemicals
690
-
<1
2100
2800
Unregulated chemicals
520
-
<1
4500
5000
Construction waste
<1
-
<1
10
10
Waste to incinerator
<1
-
<1
36
36
Inert chemical
<1
-
<1
1500
1500
Wood waste
<1
-
<1
9
9
Wooden pallets
<1
-
<1
<1
<1
Waste to recycling
<1
-
<1
9
9
29000
-
1
32
29000
1
-
1
9
11
-5500
-
-
<1
-5500
Waste returned to mine
Tailings
Municipal solid waste
Note: Negative values correspond to consumption of waste e.g. recycling or use in electricity
generation.
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Table 10
Gross solid waste in EU format associated with the
production of 1 kg of purified hydrogen chloride. Entries
marked with an asterisk (*) are considered hazardous as
defined by EU Directive 91/689/EEC
Emission
Totals
(mg)
510
30000
3
2
140
1
6
2300
46
670
520
560
9
<1
20
34
38
4
200
1
6
<1
2700
2800
410
940
150
470
1200
<1
1
1000
<1
16
62
1200
<1
<1
<1
<1
9
45
<1
010101 metallic min'l excav'n waste
010102 non-metal min'l excav'n waste
010306 non 010304/010305 tailings
010308 non-010307 powdery wastes
010399 unspecified met. min'l wastes
010408 non-010407 gravel/crushed rock
010410 non-010407 powdery wastes
010411 non-010407 potash/rock salt
010499 unsp'd non-met. waste
010505*oil-bearing drilling mud/waste
010508 non-010504/010505 chloride mud
010599 unspecified drilling mud/waste
020107 wastes from forestry
050106*oil ind. oily maint'e sludges
050107*oil industry acid tars
050199 unspecified oil industry waste
050699 coal pyrolysis unsp'd waste
060101*H2SO4/H2SO3 MFSU waste
060102*HCl MFSU waste
060106*other acidic MFSU waste
060199 unsp'd acid MFSU waste
060204*NaOH/KOH MFSU waste
060299 unsp'd base MFSU waste
060313*h. metal salt/sol'n MFSU waste
060314 other salt/sol'n MFSU waste
060399 unsp'd salt/sol'n MFSU waste
060404*Hg MSFU waste
060405*other h. metal MFSU waste
060499 unsp'd metallic MFSU waste
060602*dangerous sulphide MFSU waste
060603 non-060602 sulphide MFSU waste
060701*halogen electrol. asbestos waste
060702*Cl pr. activated C waste
060703*BaSO4 sludge with Hg
060704*halogen pr. acids and sol'ns
060799 unsp'd halogen pr. waste
061002*N ind. dangerous sub. waste
061099 unsp'd N industry waste
070101*organic chem. aqueous washes
070103*org. halogenated solv'ts/washes
070107*hal'd still bottoms/residues
070108*other still bottoms/residues
070111*org. chem. dan. eff. sludge
continued over …..
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Table 10 - continued
Gross solid waste in EU format associated with the
production of 1 kg of purified hydrogen chloride. Entries
marked with an asterisk (*) are considered hazardous as
defined by EU Directive 91/689/EEC
070112 non-070111 effluent sludge
<1
070199 unsp'd organic chem. waste
1100
070204*polymer ind. other washes
<1
070207*polymer ind. hal'd still waste
<1
070208*polymer ind. other still waste
14
070209*polymer ind. hal'd fil. cakes
<1
070213 polymer ind. waste plastic
<1
070214*polymer ind. dan. additives
9
070216 polymer ind. silicone wastes
<1
070299 unsp'd polymer ind. waste
11
080199 unspecified paint/varnish waste
<1
100101 non-100104 ash, slag & dust
11000
100102 coal fly ash
13
100104*oil fly ash and boiler dust
<1
100105 FGD Ca-based reac. solid waste
<1
100113*emulsified hyrdocarbon fly ash
42
100114*dangerous co-incin'n ash/slag
1
100115 non-100115 co-incin'n ash/slag
100
100116*dangerous co-incin'n fly ash
<1
100199 unsp'd themal process waste
19
100202 unprocessed iron/steel slag
34
100210 iron/steel mill scales
2
100399 unspecified aluminium waste
<1
100501 primary/secondary zinc slags
<1
100504 zinc pr. other dust
<1
100511 non-100511 Zn pr. skimmings
<1
101304 lime calcin'n/hydration waste
1
130208*other engine/gear/lub. oil
<1
150101 paper and cardboard packaging
1
150102 plastic packaging
<1
150103 wooden packaging
<1
150106 mixed packaging
42
170107 non-170106 con'e/brick/tile mix
<1
170904 non-170901/2/3 con./dem'n waste
10
190199 unspecified incin'n/pyro waste
<1
190905 sat./spent ion exchange resins
1500
200101 paper and cardboard
<1
200108 biodeg. kitchen/canteen waste
<1
200138 non-200137 wood
<1
200139 plastics
130
200140 metals
<1
200199 other separately coll. frac'ns
-1400
200301 mixed municipal waste
20
200399 unspecified municipal wastes
-5000
Note: Negative values correspond to consumption of waste e.g. recycling or
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12