BASF has inaugurated a new world-scale production plant for alkyl ethanolamines at its Verbund site in Antwerp, Belgium. This new investment will increase the company’s global annual production capacity for alkyl ethanolamines, including dimethyl ethanolamine (DMEOA) and methyl diethanolamine (MDEOA), by nearly 30 percent to over 140,000 tons per year. The new plant is an important part of the BASF production network for this portfolio at the company’s sites in Ludwigshafen, Germany; Antwerp, Belgium; Geismar, Louisiana; and Nanjing, China.

“This investment demonstrates our vision to be the preferred partner for sustainable intermediates and our strong commitment to remain a key supplier of alkyl ethanolamines.” says Ketan Joshi, President of BASF’s operating division Intermediates. “With this new investment, we are expanding our global production network. Based on our Verbund integration and competitive technology we want to enable our customers to grow sustainably.”

The versatile alkyl ethanolamines are mainly used as precursors for gas treatment chemicals, for flocculants applied in water treatment and as binders between pigments and resins in the coatings industry. Other applications include fabric softeners, additives for metalworking fluids and polyurethanes.

With approximately 300 different amines, BASF has the world’s most diverse portfolio of this type of chemical intermediates. Along with alkyl-, alkanol- and alkoxyalkylamines, the company offers heterocyclic and aromatic as well as specialty amines. BASF’s portfolio also includes an expanding range of chiral amines, known for their high optical and chemical purity. The versatile products are used mainly to manufacture process chemicals, pharmaceuticals and crop protection products, as well as cosmetic products and detergents. They also serve to produce coatings, special plastics, composites and special fibers.