Air Liquide invests $30 million on CO2 recovery plant

Montreal-based Air Liquide Canada, a subsidiary of the Air Liquide Group, a global provider of gases, technologies and services for industry and health, has opened a new carbon dioxide (CO2) recovery plant located in Johnstown, Ontario.

Air Liquide invested over $30 million these past two years to build this new facility and enhance its bulk distribution fleet in Ontario and Quebec.

The plant is the only one in Canada with a Health Canada drug establishment license authorizing the fabrication, testing, packaging and labeling of medical grade CO2 in accordance with the requirements of the Canadian Food and Drugs Act, as well as the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) requirements of the Canadian Food and Drug Regulations.

With an over 300 Tons Per Day (TPD) capacity, this latest addition to Air Liquide facilities in Canada is now in full operation mode and delivers premium CO2 that is also FSSC (Food Safety System Certification) and NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) certified.

“With its state-of-the-art design and latest technology, the 170,000 square feet facility enables us to capture the raw CO2 waste feed from Greenfield, leading Canadian ethanol supplier, and transform it (thus preserving the environment) into liquified CO2 gas, which is then delivered to Air Liquide Central Canada customers who will use it mainly in the food, water treatment and manufacturing industries,” explained Bertrand Masselot, president and CEO of Air Liquide in Canada.

Ross Fuller, vice president, Process Industries, commented: “After just four months of tests, audits and certifications, the results are astonishing: major industrial customers in Quebec and Ontario benefit from a nearby high-quality gas supply source and Air Liquide makes a significant contribution to the local economy. The Johnstown CO2 recovery plant will position Air Liquide for continued growth as a leading medical and industrial gas provider in Canada.”