Emerald Kalama Chemical, a part of Emerald Performance Materials, will add a second 100,000 t/y train for its high purity benzoic acid sold under the Purox B trademark and at the same time increase production capability for benzaldehyde at its facility in Rotterdam, the Netherlands up to late 2016.

The expanded production is designed to support growing demand for the company’s benzoic acid flakes, sodium benzoate granules and liquid benzoic acid, used in food and beverage, personal care, pharmaceutical and a variety of industrial applications.

Benzoic acid and benzaldehyde from the company’s reactor train are key intermediates used for to make products such as plasticizers and aroma chemicals.

“Reassessing our long-term strategic plan for our key intermediates, our expectations for benzoic acid continue to show strong growth and track according to plan,” said Hubert Degens, vice president of the Emerald Kalama Chemical Benzoates and Intermediates business.

“In addition,” Degens said, “our recent acquisition of Innospec Widnes’s aroma chemical business and growth plans for that platform are in line with our increased production capacity for benzaldehyde.”

The company has been producing benzoic acid at its Rotterdam and US operations for more than 50 years. Emerald Kalama Chemical’s portfolio of benzoic acid products is FDA-approved and GRAS-classified. The Rotterdam operation is also certified to meet or exceed a number of important quality standards.