Evonik Expands Isobutane Derivatives Capacity

Specialty chemicals maker Evonik recently completed a “double-digit million euro” project to increase production of isobutane derivatives at its C4 Verbund site in Marl, Germany by over 50%, the company announced this week. The effort supports manufacturing of the petrochemical specialties Tertiary Butanol (TBA), Di-isobutane (DiB), and 3,5,5-Trimethylhexanal (TMH), which are used as intermediates in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries.

“As a leading European key supplier of high-purity isobutane derivatives, we willingly rise to the challenge of supporting our customers’ dynamic growth and continuing to invest in product quality and security of supply,” Dr. Hinnerk Gordon Becker, head of the Specialties market segment for Evonik Performance Intermediates, said in a release. “That’s why, in June 2020, we already began the targeted expansion of our C4 Verbund and to eliminate existing bottlenecks in production and logistics.”

The expansion of the Marl location was recently finished. Evonik’s project increased the purity of 3,5,5-Trimethylhexanal made at the Marl plant from about 88% to over 95%.

“In the course of this expansion, we have taken extensive measures to significantly increase both production and delivery flexibility. We are currently also working on optimally serving highly specialized customer industries with smaller requirements, such as those om the field of flavors and fragrances,” said Becker. “This opens up completely new applications for our petrochemical specialties.”

Evonik’s Performance Materials division brought in sales of €2.91 billion in 2021.