Clariant’s catalysts business has formed a strategic alliance with Shanghai Huaxi Chemical Industry Science & Technology Co. for hydrogen projects in China.

Under the agreement, Clariant will provide a range of catalysts for the Shanghai-based company’s medium temperature shift (MTS) technology licenses, including reforming, hydrodesulfurization and water gas shift processes.

Clariant’s ReforMax series catalysts will be recommended for the reforming process while its HDMax catalysts will be used for the hydrodesulfurization of feed streams.

For the water gas shift process, Shanghai Huaxi will endorse the Swiss group’s high-performance ShiftMax 300, a copper/zinc MTS catalyst that enables high reaction rates at temperatures as low as 185^oC and offers high sulfur resistance.

Thomas Wenger, head of Clariant’s catalysts business in China, said the alliance intensifies the partnership between the two companies following an agreement earlier in 2017 to collaborate on several hydrogen projects.”Our combined strengths in MTS hydrogen production will bring significant advantages to Chinese customers,” he said.

The Basel-headquartered group has been focused on boosting its growth in China through a stronger local presence. To that end, the company opened a new office for its catalysts business in Qingdao, Shangdong province, in December 2017, to better serve customers in central and northern China.

This was preceded in July 2017 by the opening of an office in Yinchuan city, capital of the Ningxia Hui autonomous region. Clariant said the region in northwest China is home to a majority of the country’s coal-to-chemicals producers as well as numerous syngas and polyolefin companies.

Clariant has two catalyst plants in China, one in the Jinshan district of Shanghai and the other in Panjin City, Liaoning province.

Late last month, Saudi chemicals and plastics producer Sabic announced it had bought a 24.99% stake in Clariant from US hedge funds Corvex and 40 North.