Clariant is planning a “significant” expansion of its catalyst production in Panjin, Liaoning province, northeast China. The Swiss specialty chemicals producer said the double-digit million Swiss franc investment sum will cover further optimization of an existing facility and enable the creation of a new state-of-the-art production line for its SynDane maleic anhydride (MA) catalyst.

Chief operating officer Hans Bohnen said the project supports Clariant’s strategy of focusing on its core high-value specialty businesses to intensify growth, especially in major growth markets such as Asia-Pacific, in particular China. The Swiss group added that the upgrade will help its customers meet the “dynamically growing” global demand for MA, for which production is expected to jump from 1.75 million t/y in 2018 to 2.07 million t/y in 2022.

The SynDane catalysts are said to be optimized for cost-efficient MA production via selective oxidation of n-butane in fixed-bed tubular reactors. Clariant said the catalysts’ superior yield, selectivity and operating stability greatly reduce the formation of byproducts such as acrylic acid and acetic acid as well as their downstream polymerization, thus minimizing downtime for equipment.

Since 2007, Clariant has produced the MA catalysts at Panjin in a joint venture with leading Chinese petrochemical producer North Huajin Chemical Industries. The Panjin site employs more than 140 people producing catalysts and adsorbents for production of butane-based maleic anhydride, ammonia, hydrogen, and methanol, as well as for other applications.