Production capacity of methanesulfonic acid is increased
Expansion will raise global annual capacity to 30,000 tonnes Methanesulfonic acid is an alternative to phosphoric acid in industrial and household detergents Demand for methanesulfonic acid continues to increase
BASF is investing in methanesulfonic acid (MSA) production and plans to expand the existing plant in Ludwigshafen, Germany. After finalization in 2012, BASF will have an annual MSA capacity of 30,000 tonnes, making BASF the world's leading methanesulfonic acid supplier. Expansion of the MSA plant will create 12 new jobs at the Ludwigshafen site.
Methanesulfonic acid is a strong, odorless and colorless organic acid. Methanesulfonic acid is being used in more and more applications because of its unique performance features. MSA is easy to handle and non-oxidizing. It is increasingly being used to replace phosphoric acid in detergent formulations because of the high solubility of its salts and relatively low corrosivity, thereby helping to avoid environmental phosphate pollution. Methanesulfonic acid by BASF is readily biodegradable and chloride-free. "The capacity expansion is our response to continuously rising demand for methanesulfonic acid," Dr. Stefan Beckmann, Senior Vice President Care Chemicals & Formulators Europe says. "That's because the properties of methanesulfonic acid offer crucial benefits in many applications. As a result, our customers cut production costs and less phosphate enters the environment .“
Special production method for high purity
Methanesulfonic acid is manufactured in a continuous process by a method developed and patented by BASF. The final distillation process ensures that methanesulfonic acid produced by BASF has a very high degree of purity. MSA by BASF is supplied as a 70% aqueous solution under the brand name Lutropur® MSA. Anhydrous MSA is available under the brand name Lutropur® MSA 100.
BASF customers apply the acid in industrial and household detergents and also in galvanic baths for circuit board and tinplate manufacture, among other applications. MSA is also used in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries as an element of synthesis and as a catalyst.
BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics and performance products to agricultural products, fine chemicals as well as oil and gas. As a reliable partner BASF creates chemistry to help its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF posted sales of more than €50 billion in 2009 and had approximately 105,000 employees as of the end of the year. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN).
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