BASF has announced expansion of global capacities for methane sulfonic acid (MSA) to 50,000 metric tons per year. The volumes from the additional capacity are expected to be available from the end of 2021 and are dedicated to mainly serve European customers as well as the rapidly growing Asian market. The expansion involves double-digit million-euro investment in constructing a new methane sulfonic acid plant in Ludwigshafen, Germany.
Innovative Process Approach for Producing MSA
The company wants to mitigate the growing demand for high-quality, sustainable and high-performance technologies. BASF expands capacities and production technologies by acquiring innovative process approach for producing MSA, and by developing new manufacturing process for MSA.
Sustainable Alternative to Conventional Acids
MSA is a strong organic acid used in numerous applications ranging from chemical and biofuel synthesis to industrial cleaning and metal surface treatment in the electronics industry. BASF's high-purity methane sulfonic acid – sold under the brand name Lutropur® MSA – is a sustainable alternative to other acids such as sulfuric, phosphoric or acetic acid and is biodegradable. The benefits of using methane sulfonic acid come from its non-oxidizing character, the high solubility of its salts and the absence of color and odor.
Source: BASF