Chemical company Kemira has announced an investment of millions of euros, without specifying the figure, with the goal of expanding the ferric chloride production capacity at its Tarragona plant. This operation will enable Kemira to respond to the growing demand for this product in the market for biogas and phosphorus removal applications in Europe.

Ferric chloride is used for the production of BDP (biogas digestion products), and is also the most widely used coagulant to reduce phosphorus in wastewater treatment. The Finnish company expects the planned expansion to be operational in 2026.

Replacing natural gas with biogas
The biogas market is growing rapidly in Europe. The European Union wants to reach 35 billion cubic metres of biomethane by 2030. In developing circular solutions, replacing natural gas with biogas produced from organic waste and agricultural by-products is key to achieving decarbonisation plans.

Phosphorus, on the other hand, is on the EU's list of critical raw materials. The phosphorus recovered can be used in agriculture as a fertiliser. The recovery of this critical nutrient from waste water is made possible by efficient phosphorus removal technology. Ferric chloride removes phosphorus from waste water and reduces eutrophication in natural water bodies.

Sustainable solutions
The president of Kemira's industry and water segment, Tuija Pohjolainen-Hiltunen, explained "This investment fully supports our strategy and ambition to grow in water and sustainable solutions. It enables us to support our customers in their sustainability efforts with biogas and phosphorus removal applications. The patented and tailor-made biogas products are unique and have an added potential to significantly improve the performance of biogas production."

The chemicals developed by Kemira, which are primarily intended for water-intensive industries, work as nutrients in the biological biogas process and also remove toxic substances from the process. The company also offers services linked to this process and solutions to optimise biogas production capacity and minimise operating costs without the need for new investments.

^{Photo: Kemira}