Süd-Chemie Zeolites GmbH, a subsidiary of Süd-Chemie AG (Munich, Germany; www.sud-chemie.com) has begun to expand its production plant for new specialty zeolites, and also construct a new wastewater processing plant, at its Bitterfeld site in Germany. The investment amounts to double-digit million euros. From 2009 onwards, the products supplied by the enlarged plant with its significantly increased capacity will include a new type of catalyst, making it possible to manufacture propylene from coal and natural gas instead of conventional petroleum oil.
Specific use will be made of the zeolites manufactured in Bitterfeld in processes developed by Lurgi AG (Frankfurt, Germany; www.lurgi.com), which are used in China to produce propylene from methanol. The methanol required is produced by Lurgi’s MegaMethanol technology, which also uses catalysts from Süd Chemie.
Süd-Chemie’s zeolites are also used to manufacture high-octane petrol, winterproof diesel, as well as in environmental technology to purify emissions from diesel-fueled vehicles, thermal -power and industrial-production plants.