Air Liquide’s (Paris, France; www.airliquide.com) engineering and construction activity entity, Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions has announced the successful startup of a world-scale butadiene extraction unit at Evonik’s facility in Antwerp, Belgium, and further strengthens its leading market position in Europe.
Butadiene is an important industrial chemical used as a monomer in many day-to-day products, mainly as synthetic rubber for the automotive market. Butadiene can also be used as a raw material for the production of many products, such as polymers, plastics and paper chemicals.
The butadiene extraction technology is licensed and engineered by Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions and is based on BASF’s n-methyl-pyrrolidone (NMP) process (also known as BASF NMP butadiene extraction technology).
Cristiano Tortelli, vice president and chairman, Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions, stated: “We are proud to have contributed to the successful delivery of this new butadiene extraction facility by providing the technology, engineering and technical assistance. This milestone further enhances Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions’ leadership in petrochemical technologies, in line with Air Liquide Group’s mission to create value over the long term by delivering cutting-edge solutions to customers.”