MOSCOW (MRC) -- Solvay announces today that it will build and operate a large-scale alkoxylation unit in Pasadena, Texas, at an integrated industrial facility of LyondellBasell’s Equistar Chemicals affiliate, in order to serve a growing North American market, said Solvay in its press release.
Equistar will supply the ethylene oxide raw material to the unit, in which Solvay will invest nearly EUR40 million and is expected to be operational in 2015.
Alkoxylates are used as emulsifiers, detergents and wetting agents and are the chemical foundation for a wide range of Solvay Novecare specialty surfactants. The on-pipe unit will ensure greater security of alkoxylate supply for North American customers. Following completion, it will bring to eight Novecare’s global alkoxylation plants.
This investment follows Solvay’s announcement in April that it will build an on-pipe alkoxylation facility in Singapore. Thanks to its presence on LyondellBasell's site, Solvay can benefit from an existing, competitive industrial footprint and assets as well as access to road, rail and navigable shipping transport to key customers and suppliers.
LyondellBasell is one of the world's largest plastics, chemical and refining companies and a member of the S&P 500. LyondellBasell manufactures products at 58 sites in 18 countries. LyondellBasell products and technologies are used to make items that improve the quality of life for people around the world including packaging, electronics, automotive parts, home furnishings, construction materials and biofuels. Equistar Chemicals, LP is a wholly-owned subsidiary of LyondellBasell.
Solvay Novecare is a worldwide leader in specialty surfactants and a major player in polymers, amines, guar, and phosphorus derivatives. Solvay Novecare engineers and develops formulations that provide consumer products and state-of-the-art industrial applications with specific functional qualities designed to modify fluid behavior and deliver cleansing, dispersal, gelling, moisturizing, penetrating, softening or texturizing properties. These formulations are used in shampoos, detergents, paints and lubricants as well as in crop protection, mining and energy production and stimulation. Solvay announced that its Aroma Performance business unit has won the ICIS Best Product Innovation Award 2013 for its Govanil flavor whose revolutionary long-lasting and intensity of taste allows for a lower use of fat and sugar in pastry, bakery and chocolate food products, said the producer in its press release.
MRC