Energy makeover at chemical plant turns toxins into fertilizer: a greener approach to burning...

Saskatchewan Minerals Inc., one of the largest sodium sulphate producers in North America, is getting a $25-million energy makeover. The project is to switch from natural gas to clean coal as the energy source for the facility. The switch is an innovative approach that will re-energize the plant

By 2008, the facility located near Chaplin will be home to the province's first commercial application of a potentially near-zero pollution abatement technology for coal.

"The conversion of our energy requirements from natural gas to coal will allow Saskatchewan Minerals to secure our role as a leader in the North American market," said Rodney McCann, President and CEO of Saskatchewan Minerals Inc.

"Further, the province and Saskatchewan Minerals will be recognized worldwide as leaders in the race for secure, near-zero emission clean energy. We will do this utilizing coal, labour and brain power from right here in Saskatchewan."

The project is being implemented by Airborne Clean Energy Ltd., a Calgary-based firm that holds the patent on the Airborne Process[TM]. The clean coal technology is expected to remove 99.5 per cent of toxins such as sulphur dioxide, sulphur trioxide and nitrous oxide from the gas stream which would otherwise be contributing to global pollution. Instead, the pollutants will be converted into two byproducts. One is a chlorine-free fertilizer that the Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan has already agreed to market, and the second is sodium bicarbonate, more readily known as baking soda. Capture and geological storage of the plant's carbon dioxide smokestack emissions would make the facility a fully near-zero emission plant and is under review by the company.

Coal is one of the largest contributors to global energy. It also produces more carbon dioxide emissions per BTU of energy than the other major fuels. The fact that this readily available fossil fuel generates over one-third of the world's electricity means the potential market for clean coal technologies is immense. Airborne has already captured some of that market. Its award-winning technology will be used in a $79-million, multi-pollutant control project on a 300MW power plant in New Mexico.

"What differentiates Airborne from other clean coal technologies is the level of pollution-scrubbing performances, the cost-effectiveness and the producer in the province that was," said Murray Mortson, President, Airborne Clean Energy Ltd.

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Airborne's relationship with Saskatchewan goes back to 1995 when the company first learned about an innovative sodium sulphate producer in Saskatchewan who was turning the chemical into sodium bicarbonate. That was Ormiston Mining and Smelting Co.

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"Airborne's co-founders knew that sodium bicarbonate could be used to scrub industrial gases. The obstacle was its high cost and the disposal of the resulting sodium sulfate byproduct. Purchasing Ormiston created the perfect opportunity for an emerging pollution abatement technology," said Mortson.

The ensuing 11 years and over $50 million invested in research and development has tested, refined and proven the technology. The scrubbing performance of Airborne's system exceeds 99 per cent for each of the major pollutants.

Sodium sulphate is used in powder detergents, glass, textiles, and the pulp and paper industry. Its diverse range of uses is sure to position Airborne Clean Energy and Saskatchewan Minerals Inc. as leaders in their fields.