BASF starts up alkylethanolamine plant at Antwerp Verbund site

BASF has started up a new, world-scale plant for the production of alkylethanolamines at its Verbund site in Antwerp, Belgium.

The new investment will increase the company’s global annual production capacity for alkylethanolamines, including dimethylethanolamine (DMEOA) and methyldiethanolamine (MDEOA), by nearly 30% to more than 140,000 tons per year.

The new plant is an important part of BASF’s production network for this portfolio, which includes sites in Ludwigshafen, Germany, Antwerp, Belgium, Geismar, Louisiana and Nanjing, China.

“This investment reflects our vision to become the preferred partner for sustainable intermediates and our strong commitment to continue to be a major supplier of alkylethanolamines,” said Ketan Joshi, President of BASF’s Intermediates operating division.

“With this new investment, we are expanding our global production network. Based on our integrated and competitive technologies, we want to enable our customers to achieve sustainable development.”

Alkylethanolamines are widely used as precursors for gas treatment chemicals, flocculants used in water treatment and binders between pigments and resins in the coatings industry. Other applications include additives for fabric softeners, metalworking fluids and polyurethanes.

With around 300 different amines, BASF has the broadest portfolio of chemical intermediates in the world. In addition to alkylamines, alcoholamines and alkoxyalkylamines, BASF also offers heterocyclic amines, aromatic amines and specialty amines.