Shell buys emissions-scrubbing firm

A division of energy giant Shell (NYSE:RDS.A) has acquired Cansolv Technologies, a company that developed technology to counter air pollution.

Cansolv—based in Montreal, Canada, and Shenzen, China—works in carbon capture and storage, as well as developing a scrubbing system to control sulfur dioxide and other contaminants.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

Cansolv will be integrated into Shell Global Solutions International B.V. The technology is currently in use in seven locations, with other projects in various stages of development.

The technology is used by the oil refining, chemical processing, utilities and metals industries to improve environmental performance and meet emissions regulations.

"We want to improve our capabilities to clean up contaminated gas and gases released during processing operations, focusing on the reduction of SO₂ emissions in the first instance," Shell Global Solutions President Greg Lewin said in a release. "We must 'learn by doing' in order to reduce costs, accelerate technology development and ultimately make carbon capture and storage commercially viable on the back of emissions trading schemes."

Cansolv Technologies was formed in 1997 through a management buyout from Union Carbide Corporation to commercialize and market the scrubbing system.