BASF Expanding Global Alkylethanolamines Capacity to 140,000 mt/yr

German chemicals firm BASF revealed plans this week to erect a new world-scale alkylethanolamines manufacturing plant at its Verbund site in Antwerp, Belgium to respond to an uptick in demand for intermediate products.

The project will boost the firm’s global capacity for the dimethylethanolamines (DMEOA), methyldiethanolamines (MDEOA), and other products in its alkylethanolamines portfolio by about 30% to over 140,000 mt/yr.

“We are seeing continuing, growing demand for alkylethanolamines in a broad range of industries such as water treatment, detergents, and gas treatment over the next four years,” Dr. Frank Stein, Regional Business Unit Europe of BASF’s Intermediates division, said in a company release. “The investment in Antwerp will have a positive effect on the available capacity for alkylethanolamines in BASF’’s amines Verbund, therefore supporting our continued ambition to provide products for our customers’ growth.”

Alkylethanolamines are used as precursors for flocculants in water treatment, as binders in coatings and resins, fabric softeners, polyurethane additives, and other applications.

BASF also operates alkylethanolamines production sites in Ludwigshafen, Germany, Geismar, LA, and Nanjing, China.