BASF will be expanding the capacity of ethylene oxide and derivates of ethylene oxide at its Verbund site in Antwerp, Belgium. The company is focusing on expansion to support customers’ growing demand for alkoxylates in the home and personal care industries as well as industrial applications.
Expansion to Support Customers Demands
The total investment adds about 400,000 metric tons per year to BASF’s production capacity for the corresponding products with an expected investment amount exceeding €500 million.
Hartwig Michels, President Petrochemicals, BASF, stated, “
This significant capacity expansion will enable BASF to support the continuous growth of customers in Europe.”
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The sequential start-up is expected to begin in 2022.
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The expansion comprises an investment in a second world-scale ethylene oxide line, including capacity for purified ethylene oxide.
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Additional investments in several ethylene oxide derivatives plants are part of the project and will be pursued in line with the ethylene oxide expansion.
Ralph Schweens, President Care Chemicals, BASF commented, “
This expansion will benefit our customers by significantly enhancing the supply of our industry leading portfolio of alkoxylates.”
Major Ethylene Oxide Derivatives
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Non-ionic surfactants.
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Ethanol amines.
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Glycol ethers.
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Polyether polyols
And, other specialty products used in a wide range of industries such as home and personal care, industrial applications and the automotive industry.
BASF is the largest producer of ethylene oxide derivatives in Europe. The company currently operates ethylene oxide plants in Antwerp and Ludwigshafen with a combined capacity of 845,000 metric tons per year.
Source: BASF