Key Takeaways
- TotalEnergies’ Antwerp refinery has commissioned its second BELCO® SOx scrubber, which began operation on December 8, 2025.
- The new unit significantly cuts sulfur‑oxide emissions, helping the site meet tightened regulatory limits and supporting the refinery’s reauthorization process.
- Ann Veraverbeke, Managing Director of TotalEnergies Antwerpen, called the scrubber a “giant step” toward the site’s long‑term sustainability ambition.
- Samantha Presley, VP Cleaner Refining at Elessent Clean Technologies, highlighted the project as proof of the technology’s global value and the trust placed in Elessent.
- BELCO® wet‑scrubbing technology is the world‑leading solution for FCCU flue‑gas cleaning, with more than 150 licensed units worldwide, and also serves as a pre‑cleaner for carbon‑capture units.
- Complementary BELCO® offerings—such as the SHELL third‑stage separator for particulate control and ozone‑based NOx reduction—provide a comprehensive gas‑cleaning portfolio for refiners and other heavy‑industry sectors.
Overview of the Announcement
Elessent Clean Technologies announced the successful commissioning of a second BELCO® integrated gas‑cleaning system at the TotalEnergies refinery in Antwerp, Belgium. The news, released via Business Wire on July 14, 2026, underscores a collaborative milestone between the two companies. The scrubber entered service on December 8, 2025 and is already delivering measurable reductions in sulfur‑oxide (SOx) emissions from the refinery complex. This development reinforces both parties’ commitments to environmental stewardship and compliance with increasingly stringent air‑quality regulations.
Installation Timeline and Operational Start
The installation marks the second BELCO® SOx scrubber deployed at the Antwerp site, following an earlier unit that had already demonstrated reliable performance. Construction and commissioning were executed through a tightly coordinated effort, adhering to strict safety protocols, schedule milestones, and quality‑assurance standards. The unit’s startup on December 8 allowed immediate treatment of flue gases emanating from the refinery’s catalytic cracker, a major source of SOx emissions. By bringing the scrubber online ahead of the planned reauthorization deadline, TotalEnergies secured compliance while avoiding potential operational disruptions.
Environmental Impact and Regulatory Compliance
With the new scrubber in operation, TotalEnergies has achieved a notable decline in annual SOx emissions, aligning the refinery’s output with the limits set by Belgian and European environmental authorities. The reduction contributes to the facility’s broader sustainability goals, including lower acid‑rain precursors and improved local air quality. The project also supports the refinery’s reauthorization process, demonstrating to regulators that the site can meet or exceed mandated emission thresholds through proven abatement technology.
Statement from TotalEnergies Leadership
Ann Veraverbeke, Managing Director of TotalEnergies Antwerpen, emphasized the strategic importance of the installation: “In perspective of our long‑term ambition, we are taking a giant step in making our Antwerp site more sustainable with this brand‑new SOx scrubber.” Her remarks highlight how the scrubber fits into a larger decarbonization roadmap, positioning the refinery as a forward‑looking participant in the energy transition while maintaining reliable production of refined products.
Statement from Elessent Leadership
Samantha Presley, VP Cleaner Refining at Elessent Clean Technologies, echoed the sentiment of partnership and technological confidence: “The successful startup of this second BELCO® SOx scrubber at Antwerp reinforces the value our technology continues to provide to refiners around the world. We appreciate the trust TotalEnergies has placed in Elessent and are proud to support their emissions‑reduction strategy with proven, high‑performance gas‑cleaning solutions.” Presley’s comment underscores Elessent’s role as a trusted supplier of emissions‑control equipment and its commitment to helping customers meet evolving environmental standards.
BELCO® Technology Portfolio
BELCO® technologies encompass a full suite of gas‑cleaning solutions designed for industrial applications. Core offerings include the BELCO® wet scrubber, the SHELL third‑stage separator (TSS), and NOx reduction systems based on ozone oxidation. Together, these technologies reliably control particulate matter, SOx, and NOx emissions to meet the most stringent regulatory requirements. The portfolio is deployed across refineries, chemical plants, metal‑processing facilities, and power‑generation sites, providing a versatile toolbox for emissions management.
BELCO® Wet Scrubber Design and Advantages
The BELCO® wet scrubber employs a single up‑flow tower with a robust, non‑plugging configuration that makes it the global standard for limiting flue‑gas emissions from fluid catalytic cracking units (FCCUs), fluid cokers, fired heaters, and boilers. Its design allows efficient removal of sulfur oxides by contacting the hot flue gas with a scrubbing liquid, typically an alkaline solution, which captures SOx as soluble sulfates. The system’s low pressure drop and high turndown ratio enable stable operation under varying load conditions, while its resistance to fouling reduces maintenance downtime and operating costs.
Global Adoption and Performance Record
More than 150 BELCO® wet‑scrubber units have been licensed worldwide, establishing the technology as the leading choice for FCCU flue‑gas control. The extensive installed base provides a wealth of operational data confirming consistent SOx removal efficiencies often exceeding 95 %. In addition to its primary role in sulfur abatement, the wet scrubber is frequently employed as a pre‑cleaning and cooling step for hot, dirty flue‑gas streams before they enter carbon‑capture units (CCUs), thereby protecting downstream equipment and enhancing overall capture efficiency.
Complementary BELCO® Solutions: SHELL TSS and NOx Reduction
The SHELL third‑stage separator (TSS) works alongside the wet scrubber to capture fine particulates that could otherwise damage FCCU turbo expanders or violate particulate‑emission limits. By removing dust and aerosols upstream, the TSS extends the life of rotating equipment and helps facilities meet stringent particulate standards. For nitrogen oxides, Elessent’s NOx reduction technology utilizes a simple ozone oxidation process that converts NOx into water‑soluble species (e.g., nitric acid), which are then readily stripped out by the wet scrubber. This combined approach delivers a holistic solution for SOx, NOx, and particulate control in a single integrated train.
Role in Carbon‑Capture Preparedness
Beyond traditional emissions control, BELCO® wet scrubbers serve as an essential pretreatment stage for carbon‑capture units. By cooling and cleaning the flue gas, the scrubber removes contaminants that could poison amine‑based solvents or solid sorbents used in CO₂ capture. This pretreatment improves the reliability and energy efficiency of CCUs, making the BELCO® system a valuable enabler for refineries seeking to integrate carbon‑capture and storage (CCS) into their decarbonization strategies.
About Elessent Clean Technologies
Elessent Clean Technologies positions itself as a leading provider of decarbonization solutions for the industrial manufacturing sector. The company’s portfolio spans MECS® sulfuric‑acid production, STRATCO® alkylation, BELCO® wet scrubbing, and IsoTherming® hydroprocessing, among others. Elessent emphasizes minimizing environmental impact while optimizing productivity and maintaining cost competitiveness. As a responsible partner to the metal, fertilizer, chemical, petro‑chemical, and oil‑refining industries, Elessent supplies critical process equipment, products, technology, and services aimed at delivering cleaner, high‑quality outputs for global markets. Further information is available at www.ElessentCT.com and via the company’s LinkedIn presence.
Conclusion and Contact Information
The successful deployment of the second BELCO® SOx scrubber at TotalEnergies’ Antwerp refinery exemplifies how collaboration between technology providers and operators can yield tangible environmental benefits. By cutting SOx emissions, supporting regulatory compliance, and preparing the site for future carbon‑capture initiatives, the project advances both companies’ sustainability agendas. For media inquiries or further details, contacts are:
- Mary Reiss, Elessent Clean Technologies – Tel: +1‑314‑464‑4375 – [email protected]
- Samantha Presley, Elessent Clean Technologies – Tel: +1‑913‑827‑6952 – [email protected]
This summary captures the essential points of the original announcement while expanding on the technology’s implications, stakeholder perspectives, and broader industrial context.