# Chemical process catalysts: Emissions

How a small catalyst can remove a potent greenhouse gas

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/process_catalysts/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.

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 |

 For a climate investor The cheapest climate wins in this family are N2O abatement catalysts on existing nitric acid plants, worth up to 180 Mt CO2e a year of abatement globally (NACAG, 2021, via nitric_acid tile), and selectivity upgrades. Catalysts for green ammonia and e-methanol depend on hydrogen projects reaching FID, which Topsoe's 2026 write-downs show is slow.

## Other sections

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