Chemicals group BASF announced the commercial launch of a next-generation Carbon Monoxide (CO) promoter additive. Enable enhances activity and delivers superior performance for refiners with more efficient use of precious metal, the company announced.

BASF announced the construction start of a new methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) synthesis unit at the company’s Verbund site in Geismar, Louisiana, in early Q2 2018.

BASF has sold the production site for styrene-butadiene-based paper dispersions in Pischelsdorf, Austria to Synthomer Austria. The agreed purchase price amounts to approx. $ 37 million.

Under a MOU signed between BASF and Sanyo Chemical, both the companies will team up to create advanced polyurethane dispersions (PUDs) to produce sustainable products. The innovative new products will have world-wide market access through the two companies' global footprint, with the MOU allowing both the firms to leverage on production networks for PUDs.

Due to the increase in natural gas prices in the European market, BASF has now curtailed its ammonia production at its sites in Antwerp, Belgium and Ludwigshafen, Germany. The move follows Yara’s recent announcement of curtailing around 40 % of its ammonia production across its numerous plants in Europe.

BASF has introduced new catalysts for producing isopropyl alcohol efficiently. Apart from this, it has also launched a new catalyst for n-butane based maleic anhydride production which increases the efficiency in the biodegradable PBAT value chain, and lastly sustainable lightweight Selective Hydrogenation Catalysts have been developed for steam crackers and refineries.

A stationary storage system is to optimize the use of electricity at BASF's Antwerp Verbund site and help stabilize the power supply. The novel battery system including converter will be presented at the ees Europe trade fair in Munich, Germany.

BASF and Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd (CATL) have entered into a strategic partnership which aims at developing a sustainable battery value chain by focusing on cathode active materials (CAM) and battery recycling. CATL is also building its first European factory in Germany to localize lithium-ion battery production while BASF is constructing a cathode active materials plant in Schwarzheide, Germany.

Decarbonizing basic chemicals — 4.6 million dollars in funding from the Dutch government will allow Dow, Shell and two new partners to push forward on their previous plans to develop steam crackers heated by electricity, for CO2-free production of ethylene.

BASF and Shanshan have formed a battery materials joint venture in China which aims to focus on the growing electric vehicle segment in the country. The joint venture has plans to develop an annual cathode active materials capacity of 90 kilotons by 2022.