JUL / AUG 2023
IN BRIEF
BASF expands worldwide in surfactants
BASF has announced plans to boost its global capacity for alkyl polyglucosides ( APGs ) by expanding its sites in Bangpakong , Thailand , and Cincinnati , Ohio , just as it is also adding alkoxylation capacities in Antwerp and Ludwigshafen ( pictured ). Both investments are within the Care Chemicals division .
Additional capacities are expected to come onstream at the Thai and US sites in 2025 . No volume details were given but BASF said that by expanding both in parallel , it “ can strengthen its position and serve customers even faster and more flexible from the regional supply points , while at the same time reducing cross-regional volume flows ”.
These APGs are biobased , readily biodegradable , mild secondary surfactants , wholly derived from natural and renewable feedstocks . They are non-ionic and can be co-formulated with other surfactants in uses such as home and personal care , industrial and institutional ( I & I ) cleaning and agrochemicals . BASF is the only North American producer . It also has sites in Germany and China .
Starting up new ethylene oxide and derivatives capabilities will add over 150,000 tonnes / year to European alkoxylation capacity . The reasons cited were additional flexibility and security of supply , as well as increasing demand . BASF is also investing in a world-scale ethylene oxide production line , including high-purity capacity .
Alkoxylation is used to produce surfactants for the home care industry and I & I cleaning applications , while alkoxylates are also used in technical applications for industrial solutions . These include materials for superplasticisers , emulsifiers for emulsion polymerisation , and additives for crop protection products and polyurethane foams .
Separately , BASF has laid the foundation stone for its new menthol and linalool plants at Ludwigshafen , as announced in March . Both are due to come into operation in 2026 , addressing growing demand in the flavours and fragrances market . They will be fully integrated into a new , world-scale citral plant at the site in Zhanjiang , China .
Amyris seeks help Synthetic biotech firm Amyris has engaged PricewaterhouseCoopers to guide an ongoing transformation that seeks savings of about $ 250 million , including optimising the costs of goods sold , reducing operating expenses and streamlining the portfolio . CEO and president John Melo has resigned with immediate effect and CFO Han Kieftenbeld has taken over as interim CEO .
Symrise opens up Symrise has opened a 300 m 2 beauty and home care centre of expertise at its site in Clichy near Paris . This includes a € 1.5 million microbiology laboratory for customer support throughout the EAME region and the company ’ s first application laboratory , which will develop products , concepts and testing methods for actives , botanicals and home care ingredients .
Boost for Almac UK-based CDMO Almac Group has announced that its global workforce has reached 7,000 after adding over 1,000 in the last 18 months . This is allied to an ongoing capital investment programme to deliver the expansion plans announced in November 2021 . Revenues also rose by 14.3 % in year ending 30 September 2022 to £ 735 million , the company said .
JUL / AUG 2023 SPECCHEMONLINE . COM
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