BASF SE

Introduction

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural products and fine chemicals to crude oil and natural gas. BASF has over 95,000 employees and posted sales of 52.6 billion (approximately $66.1 billion) in 2006. BASF Catalysts is a global division of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. In June 2006, BASF made the largest acquisition in its 143 year history, acquiring Engelhard Corporation. In its research strategy BASF concentrates major technology-driven issues of particular relevance to the future. Energy management is one of these five strategic areas. BASF Catalysts em-ploys more than 5000, with 35 manufacturing sites worldwide.

The competences

Oxidation catalysis at BASF SE: BASF has a broad expertise in oxidation catalysis. For gas-phase oxidations, BASF is operating processes, e.g., for the oxidation of propene to acrylic acid, of o-xylene to phthalic anhydride and of n-butane to maleic anhydride. The catalysts for these processes were developed in house and are currently produced by BASF’s Catalyst Division, which offers oxidation catalysts both to internal and external customers. Regarding oxidation catalysis research, improvement of current catalyst generations, development of new catalyst systems on lab-scale, upscaling from lab scale up to production scale, catalytic testing on pilot-tube scale and production-related research are the major activities. Besides, change in raw material feedstocks, replacement of oxidants by molecular oxygen and process intensification for oxidation reactions are in the focus.

Ionic liquids at BASF SE: Ionic liquids are discussed as high-potential solutions with significant efficiency improvements in a broad range of application segments. BASF offers easy access to a broad range of products (Basionics^TM and Cellionic^TM) with a great variety of properties. Based on a broad expertise in chemical processing, BASF has developed the Basionics portfolio of Ionic Liquids offering a variety of properties. Imidazolium salts are a main focus in this product line. All products are available from lab scale to industrial scale. Besides, BASF has a broad expertise in utilizing ionic liquids in chemical processing. Several processes based on Ionic Liquids have been realized within BASF (Basil processes), e.g., for acid scavenging, clorination, extractive distillation and liquid-liquid extraction processes.

The role in NEXT-GTL

BASF will be involved in the tasks catalyst design and development on lab-scale (ionic liquid film on oxidation-active support + metal complex for C-H activation), catalyst testing on lab-scale and scale-up of the catalyst recipe. Besides, the technical and economic feasibility of the novel routes for methane activation will be assessed. For the assessment of technical and economic feasibility, BASF will be the task leader.

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