BASF announced that it will invest over €500 million for the construction of a world-scale acrylic acid complex in Camaçari, Brazil. It is the company’s largest investment in South America.
The site will produce superabsorbent polymers (SAP), butyl acrylate and acrylic acid. The new complex construction is scheduled to commence in 2011 and production will start in the last quarter of 2014.
BASF has also planned to begin production of 2-ethyl-hexyl acrylate at its chemical complex located in Guaratinguetá, São Paulo, Brazil. 2-ethyl-hexyl acrylate is a key raw material used in adhesives and specialty coatings. The production is expected to begin in 2015.
The new complex will enable the company to supply major products such as acrylic resins for adhesives, textiles and coatings, superabsorbents for diapers and civil construction products. Acrylic acid is a major ingredient in the super¬absorbent polymers. Acrylic ester is one of the important derivatives of acrylic acid that are utilized in the production of architectural coatings, construction chemicals and adhesive raw materials.
BASF’s Board Member, Dr. Stefan Marcinowski stated that as a global and local leader in the entire acrylic acid value chain, the investment will further reinforce the company’s position in South America and it represents BASF’s contribution towards the development of the market.
Based on the accessibility of raw materials, propylene and utilities from Braskem, the Camaçari area has been selected for the new acrylic acid complex. Braskem, one of the leading chemical companies in Brazil, is the major supplier for BASF in the current project.
Source: http://www.basf.com/