BASF is increasing its capacity for chelating agents at Ludwigshafen, Germany, by 170,000 t/y.

The world’s largest chemical producer said it is responding to rapidly growing demand for agents such as its readily biodegradable methylglycinediacetic acid sold as Trilon and used as a phosphate substitute in liquid dishwashing detergent.

The expansion project, for which no investment sum has been named, is due to be completed by the end of 2016.

EU regulations will prohibit the use of phosphate for this application from 2017 onward. Since 2010, BASF said, some 16 European countries have banned it.

“The market for more environmentally friendly detergents and cleaners is growing substantially,” said Jens Kroker, BASF’s senior vice president Home Care and Formulation Technologies Europe.

Kroker said the first additional capacity of Trilon will be made available from before the end of this quarter