BASF starts butadiene extraction plant in Belgium

BASF has started a new butadiene extraction plant, which has a capacity of 155,000 metric tonnes per annum, at its Antwerp site, Belgium. The plant in Antwerp is BASF’s second butadiene extraction plant in Europe. BASF already operates a butadiene extraction plant in Ludwigshafen, Germany, with an annual production capacity of 1,05,000 metric tonnes. With the plant in Antwerp, BASF is more than doubling its production capacity for butadiene in Europe.
 
“This plant secures our internal supply with butadiene at competitive costs. In addition, it enables us to take advantage of opportunities on the external market and strengthens our market position in Europe,” said Dr Uwe Kirchgabner, Head of BASF’s regional business unit Basic Petrochemicals Europe.
 
The butadiene will be extracted from crude C4, a product from the steam cracker. “With the new plant we are further developing the integration of the C4 value chain in Antwerp,” said Wouter de Geest, CEO of BASF Antwerpen NV.
 
Butadiene is a raw material that can be used to produce synthetic rubber, among other applications. The tyre industry is one of the main consumers of butadiene. Other applications for butadiene include plastics production and paper chemicals.