Cabot completes emissions control upgrade at US site

Boston, Massachusetts – Cabot Corp. has reached a significant milestone in its efforts to comply with a US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) initiative to control air emissions at carbon black manufacturing facilities. 

The US supplier has ‘received and installed’ all major emission control equipment at its production site in Franklin, Louisiana, where it produces more than 70 grades of carbon blacks for elastomer reinforcement and speciality products.

In a 26 June statement, Cabot said the project had completed 90% of the estimated person-hours required and was expected to finish ahead of the industry’s April 2021 EPA deadline.

Cabot said it reached the significant milestone despite the Covid-19 pandemic and the challenges caused by Hurricane Barry.

“We are proud of our continued leadership in cleaner air emissions across the world and the significant investment we are making in Louisiana,” said Bart Kalkstein, president, reinforcement materials segment, and president, Americas Region. 

At the Franklin plant, Cabot said it will reduce NOX emissions by 90% through the use of selective catalytic control and SO2 emissions by 95% using wet gas scrubbing. 

These will represent a cut in emissions of NOX and SO2 by nearly 900 and 6,500 tonness per year, respectively, at its Franklin plant.

The facility upgrade follows Cabot’s 2017 emissions control project at its plant in Pampa, Texas. 

There, the company said it had reduced NOX emissions by 67%, eliminating nearly 1,500 tonnes of emissions over the last three years.

“We remain committed to acting responsibly for the planet, and...this includes doing our part to upgrade older facilities with investments in new technology,” said Kalkstein. 

Operational since 1952, the Franklin site employs approximately 130 people and has six manufacturing units, serving customers across North America.