Lanxess advances butyl rubber process (Update)
ERJ staff report (PR)
Lanxess has concluded pilot-phase trials of a process designed to allow more efficient production of butyl rubber, the company announced 4 April.
Conventional production of butyl rubber is highly complex, requiring process steps at very low temperatures and significant usage of steam. The new process, said Lanxess, is significantly more energy- and cost-efficient.
Lanxess has been testing of the technology at two pilot plants at its production site in Zwijndrecht, Belgium since early 2012.
The company said it now intends to mothball the pilot units after successful development of the new process.
"The new technology is fundamentally different to what we use now," said a Lanxess spokesman. "So, whenever we will built future plants we will implement this new technology. But no further comments for the moment."
As well as Zwijndrecht, Lanxess operates butyl production facilities in Sarnia, Canada and Singapore.
This article is only available to subscribers - subscribe today
Subscribe for unlimited access. A subscription to European Rubber Journal includes:
- Every issue of European Rubber Journal (6 issues) including Special Reports & Maps.
- Unlimited access to ERJ articles online
- Daily email newsletter – the latest news direct to your inbox
- Access to the ERJ online archive