BASF starts up EO complex
BASF has expanded capacity for ethylene oxide (EO) and derivatives at its verbund site in Antwerp, adding 400,000 tonnes/year in total. The €500 million+ investment comprises a second world-scale EO plant, including capacity for purified EO and alkoxylates. About 100 new jobs have been created.
The main applications for EO are as a sterilising agent, disinfecting agent and fumigant as a mixture with CO2, nitrogen or dichlorodifluoromethane; in the gas-phase sterilisation of medical equipment and instruments, packaging materials and clothing, surgical and scientific equipment; and processing of storage facilities, clothing, furs and documents.
RELATED ARTICLES
UK-based speciality chemicals company Elementis has announced that, by mutual agreement, CEO Paul Waterman will step down no later than the AGM in April 2025, remaining available as required for any transition or other support until the end of July. A successor is now being sought.
Swiss CDMO Siegfried has inaugurated its new global R&D centre for drug substances at its site in Evionnaz.
International Chemical Investors Group (ICIG), the owner of WeylChem and many other European chemical assets, has acquired the European Advanced Organics business of Valtris Specialty Chemicals.
SOCMA, the trade association of the US speciality chemical manufacturing industry, has published an open letter to the pending Trump administration, urging it to “prioritise policies that encourage advancement, streamline regulatory processes and incentivise domestic manufacturing”.
BASF has formed a partnership with Slovenian white biotech Acies Bio. Under this it will further develop the latter’s OneCarbonBio fermentation platform to derive methanol for the production of fatty alcohols for home and personal care ingredients, notably surfactants.
Peptides CDMO AmbioPharm, has broken ground on a 650 m2, $28 million expansion project at its Shanghai manufacturing site. This is due to be complete in 2H 2025 and will produce over 8 tonnes/year of crude peptide.
