MOSCOW (MRC) -- BASF, the world's petrochemical major, expands the portfolio of methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) and introduces with Lupranat ZERO (Zero Emission, Renewable Origin) the first greenhouse gas neutral aromatic isocyanate, as per the company's pres release.
Lupranat ZERO has an accounting Cradle-to-Gate1 Product Carbon Footprint2 (PCF) of zero; this means that on its way until it leaves the BASF factory gate for the customer - all product-related greenhouse gas emissions and the biobased carbon bound in the product taken together - it does not carry a CO2 backpack. Zero emissions up to the factory gate are achieved without offset certificates. Instead, renewable raw materials are used at the beginning of the chemical production chain and allocated via a mass balance process. In addition, renewable energies are used for the manufacturing process with green energy certificates (e.g. Renewable Energy Certificates).
The verification of the PCF calculation of Lupranat ZERO by TUV Nord has been successfully completed. “We have checked the calculation of the PCF of Lupranat ZERO M 70 R in detail and are now pleased to be able to confirm it for the first time," says Delia Carls, auditor at TUV NORD. Lupranat ZERO will be available in the second quarter of 2022.
"Climate protection is becoming increasingly important for our customers. With reliable data on the CO2 footprint of our products, we can support our customers in achieving their climate targets. By using Lupranat ZERO, our customers can quantifiably reduce their CO2 footprint while maintaining the same high product quality and thus make an active contribution to climate protection," says Dr. Ramkumar Dhruva, President Monomers BASF.
Lupranat ZERO will be available in the first for Lupranat M 70 R. The application is for the production of MDI polyisocyanurate panels (also known as PIR or polyiso) and rigid polyurethane foam in the construction industry. The rigid foam boards are extremely durable and are used for thermal insulation. BASF is initially introducing ZERO for Lupranat M 70 R, with other Lupranat product variants to follow.
As MRC reported before, BASF shut down an unspecified unit at its 420,000-metric ton/year steam cracker site in Ludwigshafen, Germany, due to a technical defect. Unscheduled flaring started on 13 January, 2021, at the northern part of the Ludwigshafen site and was expected to last until 17 January, 2021.
Ethylene and propylene are the main feedstocks for the production of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), respectively.
According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 2,265,290 tonnes in the first eleven months of 2021, up by 14% year on year. Shipments of all grades of ethylene polymers increased. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market were 1,363,850 tonnes in January-November, 2021, up by 25% year on year. Supply of homopolymer PP and block-copolymers of propylene (PP block copolymers) increased, whereas supply of injection moulding PP random copolymers decreased significantly.
BASF is the leading chemical company. It produces a wide range of chemicals, for example solvents, amines, resins, glues, electronic-grade chemicals, industrial gases, basic petrochemicals and inorganic chemicals. The most important customers for this segment are the pharmaceutical, construction, textile and automotive industries.
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