OREANDA-NEWS. BASF and SINOPEC are considering the extension of their Nanjing joint venture BASF-YPC Company Limited with the expansion of existing ethylene oxide (EO) production, and a new plant for neopentylglycol (NPG). BASF-YPC will further expand its acrylic acid value chain with additional acrylic acid and butyl acrylate plants. Production is expected to commence in 2014.

Together with the superabsorbent polymer (SAP) plant, now under construction and also expected to begin production in 2014, BASF-YPC Company will enhance its support to the home care and hygiene industries as well as the coatings, textiles, and construction industries.

The partners are considering an expansion of the site’s ethylene oxide unit, which has an existing capacity of 330,000 metric tons per year. EO is a basic chemical mainly used for the production of ethylene glycol, and also for the production of surfactants for washing and cleaning agents, and as a raw material for the production of ethanolamines, glycol ethers and polyurethanes.

Additionally under consideration is a new neopentylglycol unit. NPG is a unique polyalcohol offering superior performance advantages in many end-use applications, due to its high chemical and thermal stability. It is mainly used as a building block in polyester resins for coatings, unsaturated polyesters, lubricants and plasticizers. As the global market leader for NPG, BASF is the only company in the world that has production facilities in Europe, North America, and Asia. As its production benefits from backward integration, BASF offers its customers high delivery reliability.

BASF-YPC broke ground on its superabsorbent polymers plant in May 2012. The facility will have a capacity of 60,000 metric tons per year. Superabsorbent polymers are materials with the capability to absorb and hold up to 500 times of their own weight in liquid – even under pressure. The product is used in form of a white grainy powder, mainly to manufacture baby diapers and adult incontinence and feminine hygiene products.

Acrylic acid is an important precursor for the production of superabsorbent polymers. Butyl acrylate, one of the esters of acrylic acid, is used to produce adhesive and surface coating raw materials.

BASF-YPC Company Limited is a 50-50 joint venture formed in 2000 between BASF and SINOPEC.