31-08-2011

Topsoe’s WSA technology, now 100 plants and still going strong

This year, Topsoe’s wet-gas sulphuric acid units (WSA) have reached the magic 100, with over 100 units licensed around the globe.
One of a kind. Topsoe’s WSA technology removes sulphur from off-gas streams. In industries such as the refining industry, chemical production from coal and steel production, sulphurous gases are produced as a by-product. Using Topsoe’s WSA technology it is possible to convert these sulphurous gases into concentrated sulphuric acid, which can be re-used in production or sold as a commercial product.

A technology with a market
The WSA technology has been on the market for more than 25 years and during this period Topsoe has licensed more than 100 WSA units, often in combination with other technologies such as methanol and ammonia production.

"The WSA technology offers cost efficiency and fulfils client’s requirements for sulphur emission standards. Therefore it meets the industry’s as well as decision makers’ requirements," says Peter Bo Olsen, General Manager, Environmental Technology Group. 
 
Expanding markets
The demand for this combination of cost efficiency and environmental compliance has made Topsoe’s WSA solutions a global success and WSA plants are running on all continents. Especially China has been a fast growing market for the WSA technology over the past 10 years.

The WSA technology has been developed by leading Topsoe researchers and uses a unique method based on acid condensation to achieve an optimal process design. As WSA solutions are used in a number of different industries, the projects are designed and implemented in close collaboration with the clients and their contractors.

In combination with Topsoe’s sulphuric acid catalyst, the WSA technology strengthens Topsoe’s leading position as supplier to the sulphuric acid industry and consolidates the company’s role as a key supplier of environmental technology.
 
For more information, please visit www.topsoe.com.