After recently converting its mercury-based chlor-alkali plant in Frankfurt to modern membrane technology that increased the availability of chlorine raw material, AkzoNobel’s Specialty Chemicals business has entered the design phase of a further capacity expansion in Germany for the production of chloromethanes – a key ingredient in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals and electronics.

According to Jürgen Baune, AkzoNobel’s General Manager for Chlor-Alkali and Chloromethanes , “The next logical next step is to debottleneck the chloromethanes facilities to enable capacity to be increased even further.”

“Working together with our customers, we’re confident we can successfully accelerate growing our chloromethanes business by stretching the current asset base to the maximum. It aligns with our strategy to accommodate the growing demand of our key customers, while further increasing the integrity of our assets.”

Chloromethanes are used as intermediates in the production of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, refrigerants, silicone polymers and fluoropolymers, and are important raw materials for the construction and automotive industries, water treatment, cookware and electronics.