# Caprolactam: Emissions

Nitrous oxide makes this a surprisingly heavy footprint

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/caprolactam/emissions/

What this tab covers The greenhouse-gas footprint per tonne, split by lifecycle phase (feedstock, production, movement, use, end of life), the global total, other environmental impacts, levers and low-carbon routes, India's position, and where the investment opportunity lies. Emission intensity 4.00 t CO2e per t range 2.5-6.5 · indicative (basis: about 0.9 t benzene x 1.86 t CO2e/t from Plastics Europe, plus ammonia and process energy, plus N2O from ammonia oxidation where unabated) Global emissions per year 28.0 Mt CO2e per year 2024 · 4.0 t CO2e/t x 7 Mt (indicative)

Per t of caprolactam, cradle-to-gate. Intensity: derived and indicative; Plastics Europe Public LCI Database via Climatiq for benzene. Global total: derived.

#### Share of footprint by lifecycle phase
 Feedstock 50% Production / process 48% Movement 2%

#### Footprint by lifecycle phase

| Phase | Intensity | Share | Main sources of emissions | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Feedstock** | about 2.0 t CO2e per t (benzene, ammonia, hydrogen, H2O2, oleum) | 50% | Benzene 1.67 t CO2e; ammonia from gas or coal | Coal-based ammonia and hydrogen in China raise it | derived; indicative |
| **Production / process** | about 1.9 t CO2e per t (indicative) | 48% | Steam and power; N2O from hydroxylamine production in Raschig and HPO routes | N2O abatement catalysts can remove most of it | indicative |
| **Movement** | about 0.05-0.1 t CO2e per t (indicative) | 2% | Heated container shipping |  | indicative |
| **Use** | not applicable | – | Intermediate |  | n/a |
| **End of life** | about 2.3 t CO2 per t nylon 6 if incinerated (63.7% carbon) | – | Nylon textiles mostly landfilled or burnt | Nylon 6 can be depolymerised back to caprolactam (e.g. Aquafil Econyl) | stoichiometry |

#### Other environmental impacts

N2O, a greenhouse gas about 273 times CO2 over 100 years (IPCC AR6); large ammonium sulphate by-product; abandoned fishing nets as marine litter.

#### Levers to cut emissions

- N2O abatement catalysts on ammonia oxidation
- Switching to ammoximation or vapour-phase Beckmann to cut by-product and energy
- Low-carbon ammonia and hydrogen
- Depolymerising nylon 6 waste back to caprolactam

#### India

GSFC is India's only producer; its N2O abatement status was not found in sources reached.
 Emission figures are indicative global averages from the life-cycle studies named; actual footprints vary widely by site, energy mix and method.

#### Low-carbon routes

| Route | Intensity | Cost premium | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Nylon 6 depolymerisation to caprolactam (Aquafil Econyl)** | not published in sources reached | premium product pricing (indicative) | commercial at Ljubljana, Slovenia (indicative) | indicative |
| **Bio-based caprolactam (e.g. from sugars via lysine)** | not published | large | pilot (indicative) | indicative |

 For a climate investor Two clear levers: N2O abatement, which is cheap per tonne of CO2e where it has not been done, and nylon 6 recycling, since nylon 6 depolymerises cleanly back to caprolactam. India's fishnet and textile waste streams are possible feed. What has to be true is reliable collection and buyers paying for recycled nylon.

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/caprolactam/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/caprolactam/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/caprolactam/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/caprolactam/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/caprolactam/production/index.md)
- [Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/caprolactam/feedstocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/caprolactam/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/caprolactam/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/caprolactam/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/caprolactam/regulation/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/caprolactam/characteristics/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/caprolactam/links/index.md)