4 Apr 2014
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.
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