BASF Plant for R-Mandelic Acid

16 October 2000 00:00  [Source: ICB Americas]

BASF is building a plant in Ludwigshafen for the chiral intermediate R-mandelic acid. The company says it will be the first to make the product in Europe.

BASF has developed a biocatalytic process for producing R-mandelic acid. The company says its method provides high optical purity while requiring fewer steps than conventional processes. The acid's main manufacturers are all Japanese.

BASF is not revealing the exact capacity of the unit, which is due to come on in the second half of next year. A BASF spokes-man says it will comply with current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) standards and be able to produce several hundred metric tons per year.

The demand for R-mandelic acid has been strengthened by its use as a compound in the manufacture of other chiral chemicals through the crystallization process for racemic separation.

Yamakawa, which along with Mitsubishi Rayon and Nippon Shokubai is one of the leading producers of R-mandelic acid, uses it captively to make chiral amines. BASF will sell its output onto the merchant market because it does not use the crystallization process for any of its chiral products.

The company is expanding its portfolio of optically active intermediates, particularly for pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. By combining its newly developed biocatalytic processes with established technologies, it has broadened its range of chiral amines, alcohols, acids and their derivatives.

BASF has also reorganized the marketing of its textile chemicals to provide better service and individual solutions for customers. Earlier this year, the company shifted its textile dyes business into DyStar, the Bayer/Hoechst joint venture.

The business will focus on sizes, pretreatment products, fluorescent brighteners, dyeing auxiliaries and textile printing and finishing. It will also concentrate on bringing innovations to customers.

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