Circular economy: An effective model for chemical enterprises to reduce energy consumption and emissions

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Circular economy: An effective model for chemical enterprises to reduce energy consumption and emissions. Essentially, a circular economy is an ecological economy; it requires that economic activities be organized into a feedback-based process of “resources – products – recycled resources,” characterized by low extraction, high utilization, and low emissions. All materials and energy are used in a rational and sustainable manner within this ongoing economic cycle, in order to minimize the impact of economic activities on the natural environment. The traditional economy is a linear economy characterized by a one-way flow of \"resources – products – pollution emissions\", with high extraction, low utilization, and high emissions. As major consumers of energy, chemical enterprises may have various methods for reducing energy consumption and emissions, but the author believes that developing a circular economy is an effective way for such enterprises to achieve energy savings and emission reduction at the source. The most prominent feature of a circular economy is preventing pollution from occurring at the source and throughout the entire process, thereby minimizing and rendering waste harmless – which is undoubtedly the model for green chemistry. The basic goal of the modern circular economy is to prevent waste generation at the source and reduce environmental pollution. At the corporate strategic level, in addition to generating profits, chemical companies should also assume social responsibilities. Among them, the most important aspect of social responsibility is environmental protection, as well as the development of green chemistry for sustainable growth. Furthermore, a circular economy can enhance the economic benefits of chemical enterprises in terms of energy conservation and emission reduction. For any enterprise, the key to achieving energy conservation and emission reduction lies in economic benefits. If energy conservation and emission reduction reduce economic benefits, companies will lose motivation. Following the provincial **’s decision at the beginning of the year to transfer Fujian Sansteel Group, Fujian Sanhua and the other two oldest and largest chemical and steel enterprises in the region joined forces, thereby creating a broad platform for the mutual reuse of resources and their optimized allocation among these companies. Currently, the two companies are exploring the use of coke oven gas from steel mills to produce methanol through pressure swing adsorption. This is because steel mill coking processes generate large amounts of coke oven gas, which is currently mainly used as fuel, which is a pity. Some experts believe that coke oven gas is most valuable as a chemical raw material, as it contains 60% hydrogen. Companies transform the waste and debris from one production process into raw materials for another production process; in the \"food chain\" of a circular economy, such \"waste\" becomes resources. This enables companies to generate profits, while environmental pollution is minimized, representing the ideal integration of recycling and reuse. Saving energy and reducing emissions, as well as developing a circular economy, are the essential paths to transforming and upgrading traditional chemical industries. As chemical enterprises, they must address both the symptoms and root causes of the problems; by making efforts to advance energy conservation and emission reduction and to accelerate the transformation of traditional industries, and by turning waste into resources in the process of upgrading these industries, it is possible to achieve efficient and circular use of energy in the chemical sector. This, in turn, will help chemical enterprises reduce production costs, improve economic efficiency, and enhance their competitiveness! Reproduced from China Chemical Industry Information Network