Solvay has begun production at its two new large-scale “on-pipe” alkoxylation plants in Europe and Asia.
Both facilities produce alkoxylates used in Solvay’s Novecare specialty surfactants, which go into products such as shampoos, detergents, paints, lubricants and crop protection agents.
The units located at the Belgian chemical producer’s integrated petrochemical hubs in Moerdijk, the Netherlands, and in Singapore receive ethylene oxide via dedicated pipelines and provide secure captive feedstock supply for the surfactant range, Solvay said.
Emmanuel Butstraen, president of the Novecare global business unit, said “both facilities are platforms for providing highly competitive and innovative intermediates to further penetrate key markets in Europe and Asia Pacific for our agrochemicals, coatings, home and personal care, industrial and oil and gas markets.”
Novecare’s production at the Moerdijk plant, acquired in March of this year from Emery Oleochemicals and ERCA Group, is supplied with ethylene oxide directly by pipe from production at the vast petrochemical site. It is unclear whether the current European shortage will have any repercussions for supply there.
The plant in Singapore is currently moving toward full-scale production after successfully completing trial batch production in May and will be official opened in July.
Solvay said Novecare is already Asia's largest specialty surfactant manufacturer with 10 production sites, two Research & Innovation centers in Singapore and Shanghai, China, and a recently opened R&I laboratory in Tokyo, Japan.