Crude oil, coal, natural gas and biomass — discussions about the future mix of raw materials in the chemical industry has only just begun. PROCESS has compiled the key findings for you.

Lanxess subsidiary Saltigo has increased production capacity by converting an old fine chemicals plant into a new multipurpose facility. Join us on a tour of the new plant. Gleaming boilers and shiny-clean tiles— even at first glance, you can tell that Saltigo’s new API plant is no chemicals plant in the traditional sense.

Chemical production in Leverkusen has one foot in the future. The F³ project was launched to ensure that the European chemical industry remains competitive in the world market. PROCESS took a look behind the scenes.

The F3 Factory Project was launched to enhance the competitiveness of the European chemical industry by developing alternative production concepts with fast and flexible production process. In an exclusive PROCESS interview, Dr. Thomas Bott, who is head of the Polymer Technology Unit in the Polymer Research organization at BASF and is involved in the F3 Project, explains how that approach might look like in practical application.

On a major part of the pump breakdowns in the Chemical Process Industry, the causes are NPSH problems, gas admixtures in the transported fluids, dry running or operating a pump outside the permitted range.

BASF plans to sell major parts of its fertilizers activities. This comprises production plants in Antwerp/Belgium and BASF’s 50 percent share of the joint venture PECRhin in Ottmarsheim/France.

The Dow Chemical Company plans to build a propylene glycol (PG) plant in Map Ta Phut, Thailand, with a production capacity of up to 150 KTA.

Following the approval of all relevant authorities, BASF and Letter One have successfully completed the merger of Wintershall and Dea. With the joint venture called Wintershall Dea the partners intend to create the leading independent European exploration and production company with international operations in core regions.

The Chemical Process Industry is making a concerted effort to find an alternative to oil. Natural gas, coal and biomass are all potential sources of basic chemicals, and syngas production can make a bigger contribution than it has so far.

BASF announced that it has signed an agreement to sell its Bleaching Clay and Mineral Adsorbents businesses to EP Minerals.