Chemical process catalysts: Emissions
How a small catalyst can remove a potent greenhouse gas
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.Per t of catalyst, cradle-to-gate. Intensity: indicative.
Share of footprint by lifecycle phase
Feedstock 55% Production / process 40% Movement 5%Footprint by lifecycle phase
| Phase | Intensity | Share | Main sources of emissions | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feedstock | not published | 55% | nickel, copper, silver, PGM and vanadium production | Share indicative. | indicative |
| Production / process | not published | 40% | calcination and reduction furnaces | Share indicative. | indicative |
| Movement | small | 5% | container freight | Share indicative. | indicative |
| Use | outside the total; decisive | – | catalyst sets energy and by-product CO2 and N2O of the host process | Ammonia averages about 2.8 t CO2e per t (ammonia tile); unabated nitric acid emits about 7 kg N2O per t, about 1.9 t CO2e (nitric_acid tile). | ammonia and nitric_acid tiles |
| End of life | not published | – | metal reclamation; landfill of supports | Precious metals recovered at over 95% in closed loops (indicative). | indicative |
Other environmental impacts
Chromium(VI) and nickel exposure in manufacture; spent catalyst waste.
Levers to cut emissions
- N2O secondary and tertiary catalysts on nitric acid plants: up to 95-98% removal at $1-5 per t CO2e (nitric_acid tile, KBR and NACAG)
- Higher-selectivity EO and methanol catalysts
- Low-pressure ammonia synthesis catalysts for flexible, renewable-powered plants
- Catalysts for CO2-to-methanol and e-fuels
India
India's nitric acid plants are a ready N2O abatement opportunity, and its green ammonia and methanol tenders will need synthesis catalysts; no national figures found.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOEC and e-fuel catalysts | depends on power | not published | Topsoe Herning SOEC factory inaugurated 2025; restructuring in 2026 as projects await FID | Topsoe 2025 results; 27 Aug 2026 outlook |