CDon

New ways with laughing gas
 
Challenge

Nitrous oxide (laughing gas, N2O) is a byproduct of several chemical processes within the BASF Verbund. As N2O is a powerful greenhouse gas (about 300 times more potent than CO2), it must be catalytically decomposed to nitrogen and oxygen. BASF has developed a method to use part of the laughing gas as a highly selective oxidation agent in organic synthesis. This opens up for the first time the way to the industrial use of laughing gas as a valuable raw material.

Product/Process

The process developed by BASF isolates, purifies and finally uses the nitrous oxide produced in various production plants in the synthesis of cyclododecanone (CDon). CDon is used for example as raw material in the production of high-performance polyamide 12, also known as nylon 12. This is a broadly used technical polymer in applications where stability against high temperature and various chemicals is needed, as in the automobile industry.

Customer Benefit

CDon produced by the BASF is distinguished by its high purity. It is produced through an innovative and environment-friendly process at competitive costs. CDon can also be used as valuable feedstock in the fragrance industry.

Approach

Nitrous oxide can be isolated from the off-gas of various chemical plants by a newly devised pressure-swing absorption process. The isolated N2O is then used to selectively oxidize cyclododecatriene. The final product of the process, CDon, is shipped to our customers for further conversion, ultimately leading to the production of plastics, for example.

Partner

The CDon process and the nitrous oxide technology were developed in a joint effort by the BASF Competence Center Chemicals Research and Engineering, the Intermediates division (CDon production) and the Inorganics Division (N2O isolation).

Publications

BASF received the prestigious "Award for Excellence in Green Chemistry and Engineering" from IChemE in 2007 for the development of this new CDon process.

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