Adipic acid

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Chemical industry methodology, adipic acid. Calculates nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions based on the quantity of adipic acid produced. Scenarios include several abatement technologies and no abatement. Globally applicable.

Summary

This methodology represents nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions associated with the production of adipic acid.

The data and calculation methodology is sourced from the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHGP) worksheet tool N2O emissions from the production of adipic acid, version 2.0, which is ultimately based on the methodologies described in Volume 3, Chapter 3 - Chemical Industry Emissions of the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories.


The methodology

Emissions model

Adipic acid is used in the manufacture of a large number of products including synthetic fibres (particularly nylon), coatings, plastics, urethane foams, elastomers and synthetic lubricants. It is produced by the oxidation of a cyclohexanone/cyclohexanol mixture by nitric acid, from which nitrous oxide (N2O) is produced as a by-product. Emissions of N2O are primarily dependent on the quantity of adipic acid produced and the extent to which emissions abatement technologies are employed.

This methodology enables the calculation of adipic acid-associated N2O emissions on the basis of an emissions factor which represents the rate at which N2O is emitted in relation to the quantity of adipic acid produced. Multiplying a quantity of acid produced by these emissions factors results in an estimate of the emissions associated with that quantity.

In addition, the methodology can take into account the use of abatement technologies. In this case the quantity of N2O emitted is adjusted according to (1) the fraction of all emissions which are diverted into abatement technologies; and (2) the efficiency of destruction of the respective technologies.

If there is an assumption of no abatement technologies, this methodology represents the IPCC tier 1 approach. The specification of abatement technologies represents the tier 2 approach, while the use of facility specific emissions factors represent the tier 3 approach.

Model data

This methodology assumes a default, base emissions factor of 0.3 kg N2O emitted per kg of adipic acid produced (this is overridden in the tier 3 approach). This factor is adjusted when abatement technologies are considered, the magnitude of the adjustment depending on the type of technology employed. Four abatement scenarios are represented in this methodology (e.g. Thermal destruction, Catalytic destruction). Each abatement scenario is represented by default values for:

  • the typical utilization fraction of the technology
  • the abatement efficiency of the technology
These values can be specified on facility-specific basis if data is available, however. In addition, the global warming potential of N2O are also used in order to convert absolute emissions quantities into CO2e quantities - i.e. the quantities of CO2 which would exert the same atmospheric warming effect.

Activity data required

N2O emissions are directly proportionate to the quantity of adipic acid produced (i.e. mass), which therefore must be provided. In addition, the methodology enables the specification of facility-specific data for the base N2O emissions factor, the abatement utilization factor and the abatement destruction factor.

Calculation and results

N2O emissions are calculated by simply multiplying the specified quantity by the base emissions factor, and scaling according to the utilization and efficiency of any abatement technologies employed.

Two emissions quantities are ultimately provided: the absolute quantity of N2O and the corresponding CO2e quantity. These emissions represent those attributable to the specified quantity of adipic acid produced.

UIDLabel
U0T2KGRCF4WM Catalytic Destruction
4HA19N2AFF4S no abatement technology
GQSUHD4FA1ZP Recycle to feedstock for Adipic Acid
7RHJLXV3RHMF Recycle to Nitric Acid
CA6VR0HI7YQR Thermal Destruction
Abatement technology destruction factor. This represents the percentage of emissions which are abated by reduction practices
Abatement technology utilization factor. This represents the percentage of time abatement technology is in use
Baseline N,,2,,O emissions factor - i.e. N,,2,,O emissions per unit quantity of adipic acid produced. Default of 0.3 kg per kg is used unless facility-specific data is provided
Quantity of Adipic Acid produced