BASF expands ethylene oxide and derivatives production at Verbund site in Antwerp

German chemical and biotech giant BASF has expanded production of ethylene oxide (EO) and its derivatives at its Verbund site in Antwerp, Belgium.

Involving an investment of more than €500M (US$528M), the expansion would add 400,000 tonnes/year to BASF´s production capacity, the company said on 16 October.

As well as producing EO, which is used to produce alcohol ethoxylates surfactants via ethoxylation of natural or petrochemical fatty alcohols, the complex included capacity for purified EO, BASF said. It also included additional capacities for alkoxylates, which were derivatives of EO and used in a wide range of applications such as in the detergent and cleaning sectors, and the automotive and construction industries.

The company said the investment would support increasing customer demand for alkoxylates in the home care and industrial & institutional industries as well as for industrial applications.

“With the new plants we are … enhancing our market position in Europe,” BASF President Petrochemicals, Hartwig Michels said.