Perfluorocarbons (PFC) such as tetrafluoromethane (CF4) and hexafluorethane (C2F6) are climate-relevant gases that augment the greenhouse effect, presenting a challenge to the aluminium industry to reduce the generation of these gases.
Against this background, in 1997 TRIMET ALUMINIUM AG – together with all its smelter operators in Germany – made a voluntary undertaking to the then Environment Minister, Angela Merkel, to cut PFC emissions by at least 50% by the year 2005.
By means of improved measuring technology, newly-developed process management, automatic anode effect dousing strategy, optimised operating procedures and preventive maintenance, PFC emissions have now been cut by about 90% - far exceeding the original voluntary reduction figure cited.
At the Hamburg and Essen sites, annual CO2 emissions of 250 000 t have been avoided in each case (Source: RWI).