Background The Kyoto-protocol states that the global emissions of greenhouse gases must be reduced in order to prevent global warming of the earth. Though the nature and extent of the global warming remains a matter of scientific controversy and debate, it is agreed that measures should be taken.All industrialised countries that signed the protocol should, on a global level, reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 2008-2012 by 5,2% compared to 1990 levels. The EU ratified the treaty in 2002 and the target of its emissions reductions are the 6 greenhouse gasses, (CO2 (carbon dioxide), CH4 (methane), N2O (nitrous oxide), HFK’s, PFK’s and SF6), at a reduction of 8% compared to 1990 levels.For each country, different reduction percentages are agreed. For Belgium a target of 7,5% was set.The total estimated greenhouse gas emissions in Belgium in 1990 were estimated at 139 400 ktonnes CO2 equivalents. A reduction of 7,5% thus means a reduction with 10 455 ktonnes CO2-equivalents. According to the emissions inventory published by Vlaamse Milieumaatschappij, the Flemish N2O-emissions accounted in 1990 for 25 087 tonnes, of which nitric acid production accounted for 8 581 tonnes. As N2O has a global warming potential of 310, this accounts for 7 777 and 2 660 ktonnes CO2 equivalents, or 5,6% and 1,9% of the total CO2-equivalents in Belgium respectively.As such, when decreasing nitric acid N2O emissions by 80%, a significant part of the overall greenhouse gas emission reduction could be obtained. The potential on a EU level is also significant: reducing the N2O-emissions of nitric acid plants across Europe would theoretically account for 11% of the EU target set at a reduction of 336 000 ktonnes CO2-equivalents.Several companies and institutes are currently concentrating on lowering the N2O-emission in nitric acid plants. Different techniques are being considered; most of the techniques have not been tested on large scale or have not been implemented in other then the test units. The exact status is mentioned in the draft BREF of March 2004 for this sector.BASF developed a first generation catalyst that worked on lab-scale and in the small-scale reactor. However, this was not resistant to the pressures and turbulences in the medium-scale reactor: the catalyst was completely pulverised. Therefore the researchers at BASF Ludwigshafen began research for a new generation of catalysts, which led to the catalyst that will be demonstrated in this LIFE project. The BASF type of catalyst (high temperature catalysts) is considered to be the most promising one in response to technical problems. Objectives With this project BASF aims to demonstrate the N2O-abating ability of a new generation of catalyst to be build into the reactor section of a nitric acid plant. BASF wants to demonstrate the technology in its small-scale and medium-scale reactor at its Antwerp site. BASF aims at providing enough practical proof as to allow the high temperature catalytic decomposition in the oxidation chamber to be indicated as the best available technology not entailing excessive costs (BATNEEC). Results This LIFE project did not take off: after detailed evaluation of the technical possibilities of the project implementation, BASF Antwerpen NV expected that huge delays would occur. BASF Antwerpen NV therefore decided not to accept the LIFE grant.