Fifty years of propionic acid manufacturing at BASF
A rather acidic success story started at BASF 50 years ago: in the summer of 1960, the company brought on stream the first large-scale manufacturing plant for propionic acid at its integrated Ludwigshafen Verbund site.
- (1888PressRelease) September 01, 2010 - The inauguration of another facility that produces this carboxylic acid followed at the Nanjing site in China in 2005. Having expanded the annual capacity at these sites in 2009, which brought its total annual capacity to 149,000 metric tons, BASF is now one of the world’s major propionic acid manufacturers. This organic acid, which also occurs naturally, is valued as a preservative for feedgrain and as a building block for synthesis, for example in the production of pharmaceuticals, crop protection products and plastics. BASF has to date produced about 2.4 million metric tons of propionic acid.
Process efficiency enhanced
In 1941, Professor Walter Reppe, a BASF chemist always keen on experimenting, managed to synthesize propionic acid from ethylene. Ten years later, BASF built a pilot plant, and the production started just another year later. Designed for 1,200 tons per annum, the plant was soon unable to meet the constantly rising demand. So in 1960 a new large-scale plant was built that continues to make propionic acid today. “The synthesis is still based on the principle developed by Reppe, but over the years we have optimized and expanded the plant so that production is now much more efficient,” explained Dr. Bernd Bartenbach, who is responsible for the production of propionic acid at the Ludwigshafen site.
Eco-efficient propionic acid has advantages
The importance of propionic acid is quite different now from what it used to be in Reppe’s time. In those days, nearly 70 percent of the total volume was used to make vinyl propionate. Processed into polymer dispersions, the acid was ultimately used as a protective exterior paint for buildings.
Today, the acid’s main field of application is in preserving feedgrain. Propionic acid keeps feeds fresh for a long time because it prevents molding. Feedgrain preservation based on propionic acid offers clear economic and ecological benefits over other methods, as an eco-efficiency analysis confirms. This study shows that using this acid to preserve feedgrain is much more eco-efficient than feedgrain preservation by means of drying or storage in air-tight silos. BASF markets preservatives based on propionic acid under the trade names Lupro‑Grain® and Luprosil®.
Calcium propionate, a propionic acid salt, keeps sliced and packaged bread fresh for longer. In addition the organic acid is used to produce medicines, crop protection agents and solvents as well as thermoplastics. “Propionic acid is a great example of the versatility of our more than 600 intermediates that prove their benefits in our daily lives,” said Dr. Beate Ehle, President of BASF’s Intermediates division, and continued: “It also illustrates perfectly our innovative capacity and our ability to grow with our customers on a global basis.”
Additional information about BASF's propionic acid you find here
About BASF Intermediates
The BASF Group’s Intermediates division develops, produces and markets around the world a comprehensive portfolio of more than 600 intermediates. The most important of the division’s product groups include amines, diols, polyalcohols, acids and specialties. Among other applications, intermediates are used as starting materials for coatings, plastics, pharmaceuticals, textile fibers, detergents and crop protectants. Innovative intermediates from BASF help to improve the properties of final products and the efficiency of production processes. The ISO 9001:2000-certified Intermediates division operates plants at production sites in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Around the globe, 2,620 employees of the division generated sales of about €1.9 billion to third parties in 2009. For more information, go to www.basf.de/intermediates .
About BASF
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. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.
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