Manufacture of Carbon Black
Production of carbon black via furnace black or thermal black processes with specific GHG emission intensity thresholds.
Substantial Contribution to Climate Change Mitigation
The specific GHG emissions from carbon black production must not exceed 1.141 tCO2e per tonne of carbon black (EU ETS product benchmark). This covers direct emissions from feedstock combustion and decomposition in the furnace reactor, as well as indirect emissions from electricity and steam consumption. Emissions must be calculated and verified in accordance with the EU ETS Monitoring and Reporting Regulation (EU) 2018/2066.
Carbon black is primarily produced via the furnace black process, where hydrocarbon feedstock (coal tar, ethylene cracking residues) is partially combusted at temperatures above 1,400 degrees C. BAT requires maximising tail gas recovery and utilisation for steam generation or electricity production, which can recover 40-60% of the energy content of the feedstock. Process optimisation to maximise carbon black yield while minimising feedstock consumption is essential for meeting the benchmark.
Advanced reactor designs with improved heat recovery, feedstock preheating, and optimised quench systems represent key abatement levers. Facilities must also consider feedstock switching toward bio-based or circular feedstocks (e.g. pyrolysis oils from end-of-life tyres) where technically feasible.
Substantial Contribution to Climate Change Adaptation
A CRVA per Appendix A must cover the production facility under RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 projections over the remaining installation lifetime.
DNSH: Climate Change Adaptation
Physical climate risks to the production site must be assessed and adaptation solutions implemented, with particular attention to extreme heat affecting reactor cooling, water scarcity for process cooling, and flooding risks to feedstock storage.
DNSH: Water and Marine Resources
The activity must comply with the Water Framework Directive. Process water and cooling water discharge must meet BAT-AELs from the Large Volume Inorganic Chemicals BREF. PAH contamination of wastewater must be strictly controlled.
DNSH: Circular Economy
Tail gas must be recovered and used for energy generation rather than flared. Off-specification product and bag filter dust must be reprocessed where feasible. Packaging must be designed for re-use or recycling.
DNSH: Pollution Prevention and Control
The activity must comply with the Industrial Emissions Directive. Particulate emissions must not exceed 5-10 mg/Nm3 (BAT-AEL). NOx and SOx emissions from tail gas combustion must meet BAT-AELs. PAH emissions must be minimised through proper combustion control. Carbon black dust handling must comply with ATEX requirements.