Other news
Nouryon reduces carbon dioxide emissions with additional bio-steam supply
Nouryon will increase the use of bio-steam at its salt production at Hengelo, in the Netherlands, making the production more sustainable and reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
AFYREN secures over 60 million euros of financing to move into its industrial development phase
In order to offer industrial firms a reliable alternative to using acids based on oil derivatives, AFYREN has confirmed the production of bio-based organic acids on a pre-industrial scale for use with multiple applications. Today, AFYREN is launching its industrial development phase after securing total financing of 60 million euros, including a 21 million euro capital increase.
Braskem and Haldor Topsoe start up demo unit for developing renewable MEG
The mechanical completion of the innovative first process step of the demonstration plant is the first milestone to be achieved by Braskem and Haldor Topsoe’s partnership to validate the MOSAIK™ sugar-to-biochemicals solution for production of cost-competitive bio-based MEG (monoethylene glycol). Currently, MEG is made from fossil-based feedstocks, such as naphtha, gas or coal. The demonstration plant is expected to produce more than 100 tons per year of glycolaldehyde, the precursor for MEG, when it begins operation on March 1, 2019. MEG is a key component of PET plastic used for food packaging, especially bottles, and polyester fabrics. The global MEG market represents a value of 25 billion dollars.
First production of isobutene from wheat straw at demo scale
New phase for the H2020 Optisochem project after 18 months of activity. Sugars from wheat straw produced at Clariant’s Sunliquid® pre-commercial plant have been shipped to Global Bioenergies’ Leuna demo plant. Successful test runs for production of straw-based isobutene, batches delivered to INEOS for evaluation
BASF to expand capacity for methane sulfonic acid at its Ludwigshafen site
Ludwigshafen, Germany – BASF intends to expand the production capacity for methane sulfonic acid (MSA) at its Ludwigshafen site by around 65 percent and increase the global capacity to 50,000 metric tons per year. With the investment the company further strengthens its position as the leading global producer of MSA. The volumes from the additional capacity are expected to be available late in 2021 for customers in all regions.
“The demand for MSA increased strongly across industries. This expansion will allow us to support the rapid growth of our customers, especially in Asia. Beyond the increase in Ludwigshafen, we evaluate investment options outside of Europe to continuously expand our MSA capacities,” says Martin Widmann, Global Strategic Marketing and Development, Care Chemicals division at BASF. “We focus our extensive know-how and highly efficient manufacturing processes on our customers’ needs to enhance their applications’ performance, sustainability and efficacy."
Sustainable alternative to conventional acids
Methane sulfonic acid is a strong organic acid used in numerous applications ranging from chemical and biofuel synthesis to industrial cleaning and metal surface treatment in the electronics industry. The expansion is in line with the trend for top-performance and at the same time environmentally friendly technologies in various industries. BASF’s proprietary process enables the production of Lutropur® MSA – a high-purity methane sulfonic acid. Lutropur MSA is a sustainable alternative to other acids such as sulfuric, phosphoric or acetic acid. As part of the natural sulfur cycle MSA is readily biodegradable. Further benefits in practical applications come, for example, from its nonoxidizing nature, the high solubility of its salts and the absence of color and odor.
