Thomas Turk, Senior Account Manager

These wise words by Thomas Alva Edison, one of the most prolific inventors of all time, highlight that the essence of an invention does not merely lie in the “idea” behind it but also depends on how we bring it into play. Italian scientist, entrepreneur, and chemical engineer, Oronzio De Nora’s insightful initiative of recognizing the importance of Henri Beer’s mixed metal oxide (MMO) coating invention, adopting it, and building on it for its industrial application resonates deeply with this narrative.

Oronzio De Nora, one of the main drivers of Chlor-Alkali technological improvements, was the first to realize the potential of the revolutionary MMO-coated anodes for the Chlor-Alkali industry. After having bought the patents, he introduced the revolutionary product, DSA® (dimensionally stable anodes) anodes, in the late sixties and early seventies in mercury cells. Founded in 1923 by this thought leader, De Nora—almost a century-old innovative electrochemical solutions provider—offers its DSA® titanium anodes coated with proprietary and patented MMO coating for cathodic protection of concrete and conventional structures, including pipelines, storage tanks, and steel-reinforced concrete structures. The company is one of the largest suppliers of insoluble electrodes for electrochemical applications and a leading provider of equipment, systems, and processes for water disinfection and filtration worldwide. “De Nora is the original inventor of DSA technology. We own the patents on MMO anodes used to protect steel in concrete against corrosion. We’ve used our novel anodes to protect structures around the world. A part of the Sydney Opera House was protected with De Nora’s mesh ribbon anodes,” remarks Thomas Turk, Senior Account Manager at De Nora.

De Nora’s anodes are based on titanium substrate as this metal possesses high dimensional stability that ensures long-lasting protection against corrosion and survives longer in concrete. “De Nora’s cathodic protection is one of the very few accredited technologies that can halt and reverse corrosion in steel reinforced structures,” Turk adds. De Nora has developed its LIDA titanium anodes primarily for conventional protection, especially in pipelines and above-ground storage tanks. While graphite, high silicon iron anodes, and other competitive technologies on the market are limited to extremely low current outputs and susceptible to breakage, LIDA anodes are easy to install and more economical to ship as they are lightweight and not fragile. ELGARD MMO anodes, yet another premier solution offered by De Nora, proves to be highly effective for cathodic protection of steel-reinforced concrete.

De Nora’s cathodic protection is one of the very few accredited technologies that can halt and reverse corrosion in steel reinforced structures

Amidst a highly volatile metals market, De Nora continually modifies its anode catalysts to provide the best solutions to its customers at a competitive price. De Nora is constantly seeking ways to advance its technology by using better catalysts for its anodes, adopting cost-effective processing techniques, and boosting product performance. As organizations look for alternative technologies due to the rising costs of precious metals (platinum, iridium, and more), De Nora has deployed a dedicated supply management group in Milan to keep its finger on the pulse of the dynamic metals market and act instantly. Powered by its international research teams (two R&D centers in Japan, one in Italy, and the other in the U.S.), the company brings in unparalleled expertise to drive its customers toward a brighter and more sustainable future.

Along with catering to the acute need for water treatment and reuse of limited water supply, De Nora is also looking to resolve issues related to climate change, population growth, increasing carbon footprint, and resource scarcity. In addition, De Nora realizes that there is a finite amount of precious metals in this world and aims to not just reduce their use but also recover and recycle them. “Our technology allows us to use old anodes, recover the metal, and put it back into its cycle,” says Turk. The company prides itself on going green and looks at the future through energy conservation lenses. Focusing on the hydrogen economy, De Nora aims to develop anodes for flow batteries, gas diffusion electrodes for fuel cells, among others. The company is also focusing on alkaline water electrolysis, which requires gas diffusion electrodes and concentrating its R&D efforts on the renewable energy storage and power markets.