How Scrubbing Technologies can help

Despite growing environmental awareness and ambitious climate targets, the chemical industry remains one of the most fossil-fuel-dependent sectors in Europe and beyond. From ammonia to methanol, production chains still rely heavily on natural gas and other hydrocarbons. This structural dependence poses a significant challenge to achieving net-zero goals, especially when global competitors benefit from cheaper energy and less stringent regulations.

In response, the European Commission has announced the creation of a Critical Chemical Alliance, aiming to secure essential production capacities, reduce import dependencies, and support decarbonisation across the sector. Against this backdrop, clean technologies such as gas scrubbing systems emerge as a practical and scalable solution. These systems not only reduce harmful emissions immediately but also support the gradual transition to low-carbon processes.

In this article, we’ll explore the current state of chemical sector decarbonisation, assess the role of scrubbing technologies, and highlight how companies like Tecnium are enabling sustainable transformation through adaptable and high-efficiency solutions.

Table of contents

The State of Decarbonisation in the Chemical Sector

Climate Commitments vs. Reality

A majority of chemical companies — over 70%, according to industry reports — have publicly committed to carbon neutrality by 2050 or earlier. Yet in practice, progress remains limited. Only a fraction of these companies have implemented concrete strategies or allocated significant investment toward emissions reduction.

Why? The answer lies in cost pressure, technological complexity, and the high energy demands of chemical production. Many key processes, especially those involving high-temperature reactions, are still technically and economically tied to fossil fuels. These include the production of ammonia, methanol, ethylene, and other building-block chemicals essential to countless downstream industries.

Chemical sector decarbonisationChemical sector decarbonisation CO2
Chemical sector decarbonisation fosil fuels

Technologies Still Based on Fossil Fuels

At the heart of this dilemma are units like steam crackers, which use large volumes of natural gas to break down hydrocarbons into fundamental chemicals like ethylene and propylene. These units are energy-intensive and not easily replaced or retrofitted.

Meanwhile, materials such as methanol remain 80% dependent on imports, exposing the EU to external volatility. Although e‑methanol and other green alternatives show promise, they currently face steep production costs, limited infrastructure, and constrained access to renewable energy sources.

All of this paints a clear picture: the path to decarbonisation in the chemical sector will be long and complex. Interim solutions are urgently needed — and this is where scrubbing technologies come into play.

Scrubbing Technologies: An Essential Tool for the Transition

Role of Gas Scrubbers in Pollution Control

Gas scrubbers are among the most effective technologies for controlling industrial air pollution, especially in sectors like chemicals, mining, and metallurgy. These systems are designed to capture and neutralize acid gases (HCl, SO₂, HF), chlorinated compounds, VOCs, and particulate matter before they are released into the atmosphere.

By treating emissions at the source, scrubbers allow facilities to significantly reduce their environmental footprint — even when the primary energy source remains fossil-based. This is a key advantage during the transition phase: scrubbing systems do not require a complete overhaul of production processes to deliver meaningful improvements in air quality.

Moreover, modern scrubbers can be integrated into existing lines with minimal disruption, helping companies comply with tightening environmental regulations and avoid fines or shutdowns.

Supporting Cleaner Processes During the Transition

Scrubbers are not just reactive tools — they also enable proactive environmental management. Their integration can support broader decarbonisation goals in two major ways:

Operational continuity

Facilities can continue to meet production targets while reducing harmful emissions, buying time to invest in structural changes like process electrification or the adoption of green feedstocks.

Compatibility with circular economy models

Scrubbers can be connected to gas recovery, solvent reuse, or carbon capture units, turning emissions into a resource instead of a liability.

In industrial zones and urban-adjacent areas, scrubbers also deliver immediate health and safety benefits, improving air quality for workers and nearby communities alike.

How Tecnium’s Scrubbing Solutions Contribute to Decarbonisation

Modular, Scalable and Tailored to Industry Needs

Tecnium’s portfolio of gas scrubbing solutions is specifically engineered to support the decarbonisation of high-impact industrial sectors. From chemical production to mining and metallurgy, our systems offer modularity, efficiency, and long-term reliability.

We design and manufacture a wide range of technologies, including:

TECNIUM-CHEM

Chemical scrubbers using water or reagent-based absorption in towers, venturis, or cyclones.

Tecnium Chem gas waste treatment

TECNIUM-CARB

Activated carbon adsorption systems, including catalytic and regenerable models.

TECNIUM-K

High-performance filtration with alumina blends, active carbon, and zeolites.

TECNIUM-BIO / BIO-TR

Biofiltration systems with organic or inorganic filters — ideal for reducing odor and VOC emissions without chemicals.

TECNIUM-DEGAS

Stripping systems to remove dissolved gases in wastewater.

Tecnium Adsorption High Performance

TECNIUM-RTO

Regenerative thermal oxidation for high-load VOC emissions.

These technologies are adaptable to new or existing production lines, enabling a progressive upgrade path toward lower emissions.

Tecnium also provides custom engineering for each installation, ensuring that our systems meet the specific chemical profiles, flow rates, and regulatory requirements of your facility.

Field-Proven Success Across Industrial Sectors

Our scrubber solutions are already deployed in critical infrastructures across Europe and beyond. We’ve delivered turnkey systems in:

  • Petrochemical plants under pressure from gas prices and emissions quotas.

  • Mining operations dealing with high particulate loads and acid gases.

  • Metalworking and galvanization facilities requiring robust removal of fumes and aggressive compounds.

  • Paper and wastewater treatment plants, where biofiltration replaces chemical treatments and reduces operating costs.

Each installation demonstrates how air pollution control can be a strategic tool in the path toward cleaner, more sustainable production.

What the Future Looks Like

The Role of Public Policy and Investment

Public institutions are now playing a more active role in reshaping the chemical sector through strategic policy initiatives. The recent announcement of the Critical Chemical Alliance by the European Commission is a turning point. Its mission:

  • Protect critical chemical production sites within Europe.

  • Reduce dependency on foreign imports, especially of foundational molecules like methanol.

  • Promote investments in technologies aligned with decarbonisation and industrial sovereignty.

These efforts are coupled with new incentives:

  • Expansion of state aid for energy-intensive industries transitioning toward cleaner processes.

  • Fast-tracked permitting procedures for environmental upgrades.

  • Public procurement criteria favoring EU content and lower-emission technologies.

This institutional backing creates an environment where environmental technologies like Tecnium’s scrubbers gain strategic importance. They not only help companies meet environmental standards but also qualify them for funding, protection, and preferential treatment in a more self-reliant European industrial ecosystem.

A Call to Action for Industry Leaders

The message is clear: investing in clean technology is no longer just an environmental imperative — it’s a competitive edge.

Industrial players that proactively adopt advanced scrubbing systems and demonstrate alignment with decarbonisation roadmaps will:

  • Gain priority access to EU support programs and public tenders.

  • Boost their ESG profile and appeal to investors and clients demanding responsible supply chains.

  • Future-proof their operations against tightening emissions regulations.

In this transition period, proactivity defines leadership. Scrubbers are one of the few available, proven, and scalable technologies that can deliver immediate impact on emissions without requiring a complete overhaul of energy inputs or manufacturing processes.

Scrubbing Technologies: A Strategic Lever for Industrial Transformation

The path to decarbonising the chemical sector will be long and complex. Despite ambitious climate goals, structural challenges — such as fossil fuel dependency, high thermal demands, and global competition — continue to slow progress.

In this scenario, gas scrubbing technologies emerge as a pragmatic and immediate tool to reduce emissions without requiring disruptive changes to existing infrastructure. Their ability to adapt to different industrial settings, neutralise harmful compounds, and integrate with future clean energy systems makes them a critical enabler of industrial transformation.

Tecnium’s range of solutions, from chemical absorption towers to high-efficiency adsorption systems and biofiltration, offers realistic options for companies that want to act now. These technologies not only help comply with increasingly strict environmental standards but also position companies to take advantage of upcoming public policies and funding frameworks.

Tecnium logo blue letters

The message to the industry is clear: transformation doesn’t have to wait. The tools are here, the urgency is real, and the incentives are aligned. It’s time for industrial leaders to move — not just to survive the energy transition, but to lead it.

FAQs

Scrubbing technologies are essential tools for reducing harmful emissions in the chemical sector without requiring a complete overhaul of industrial processes. These systems—such as absorption towers, biofilters, and advanced adsorption units—are designed to capture and neutralise acidic, organic, or chlorinated compounds directly from exhaust gases. Their role in decarbonisation lies in their ability to mitigate environmental impact immediately, even while industries remain reliant on fossil fuels for energy. As the sector transitions toward cleaner energy sources, scrubbers provide a bridge solution that enhances air quality, ensures compliance with regulations, and prepares plants for future integrations like carbon capture and reuse.

The chemical industry is deeply intertwined with fossil fuels, not only for energy but also as feedstock for essential chemical reactions. Many processes, like steam cracking or ammonia production, require intense heat and specific molecular inputs that currently depend on natural gas or oil derivatives. Moreover, the infrastructure is capital-intensive and built to operate over decades, making rapid change both technically and economically challenging. Decarbonisation efforts also face global competitive pressures, especially from regions like the U.S. and China where energy costs are lower. This makes technologies that enable incremental improvements, like scrubbing systems, vital for progressing toward net-zero goals without sacrificing productivity.

Tecnium provides modular, scalable, and customisable scrubbing technologies that serve as a strategic asset in decarbonisation efforts. Their portfolio includes solutions like TECNIUM-CHEM (chemical absorption), TECNIUM-K and TECNIUM-CARB (adsorption with high-performance filter media), TECNIUM-BIO (biofiltration), and TECNIUM-DEGAS (stripping). These systems are designed to remove pollutants from gas emissions, reduce the use of hazardous chemicals, and support circular practices through energy recovery or clean-air reinjection. Tecnium’s solutions are tailored to the specific needs of sectors such as chemicals, mining, metallurgy, and waste management, making them an ideal partner in the transition toward low-emission industrial processes.

The EU’s new Critical Chemical Alliance initiative reflects growing recognition that securing local, clean production of strategic chemicals is key to economic resilience and environmental responsibility. This alliance aims to protect key production sites, promote technology investment, and reduce dependence on imports of critical molecules like methanol or ammonia. As part of this strategy, the EU is offering state aid, permitting reform, and procurement incentives for companies adopting cleaner technologies. Scrubbing systems, being highly effective in pollution control and compliance, are likely to be favoured under these frameworks. Companies that adopt them early may gain access to funding, regulatory advantages, and competitive positioning within a reindustrialised and greener Europe.