Solvay, Takuma in sodium bicarbonate marketing pact

LONDON (CNI)--Belgian chemicals and pharmaceuticals group Solvay said Tuesday it has signed a three-year distribution agreement with Japanese engineering firm Takuma for the marketing of sodium bicarbonate for purifying combustion gases in Japan.

Under the terms of the agreement, Takuma will market Solvay’s Bicar sodium bicarbonate for use in smoke-cleansing systems for municipal solid waste incineration plants in Japan. Solvay will supply the product as well as technical information on the Neutrec process, which uses sodium bicarbonate for the treatment of flue gas through filtration.

Solvay said the primary markets for the Neutrec process are the incineration of household, hospital and special industrial waste.

The Neutrec process is designed to minimise the emission of acid compounds, heavy metals, dioxins and furans into the atmosphere, relying on the dry injection of sodium bicarbonate powder into the combustion gases.