During the manufacturing process of Pinenes, which Symrise uses for the production of pine scent, sulfur compounds are generated. These shall not be allowed to be released into the environment, as they can have harmful effects and lead to acid rain. That’s why old technologies remove the pollutants with exhaust scrubbers, which are expensive and incur high ongoing costs and additional waste disposal.
At its plant in Jacksonville, Florida, Symrise is now using a process that has never before been used in the industry: the Sulfacid process. The exhaust fumes flow through an activated carbon catalyst, and the sulfur dioxide is converted to sulfuric acid by wet catalysis in the presence of oxygen and water. Symrise then uses this acid in other processes, for example in the production of Dihydromyrcenol. Symrise is the only company to produce the fragrance from renewable resources in the USA.
With the Sulfacid process, Symrise is significantly minimizing its environmental footprint. The innovation introduced by the company alongside the technology provider Carbon Process & Plant Engineering S.A. is a great investment in green technology and underlines Symrise’s commitment to sustainability and the circular economy.
