The new nitrous oxide reduction plant at Lanxess breaks down around 500 metric tons of nitrous oxide per year, being equivalent to the climate impact of 150000 metric tons of CO2.

Nitrous oxide (= laughing gas) is generated during the production of caprolactam. It is harmless to humans but 300 times more harmful to the environment than carbon dioxide. At temperatures around 1000ºC, the N2O breaks down into its harmless components nitrogen and oxygen (RTO system).

In a second process step, the plant breaks down further nitrogen oxides (NOx) with ammonia as the reducing agent. At temperatures between 250 and 450ºC, the N2O is broken down and produces nitrogen and water (SCR system).