BASF and Linde to jointly develop butadiene technology

THE Linde Group and BASF SE intend to jointly develop and license processes for the on-purpose production of linear butenes and butadiene. BASF has developed process technology and catalysts as well as the extraction technologies, while Linde is providing its expertise for the integration, optimisation and commercialization of the process.

The new process will deliver an on-purpose route from butane to butadiene via butenes. Currently, the industry relies mainly on butadiene as a co-product from naphtha-cracking to ethylene. The shift to lighter cracker feedstock results in reduced volumes of co-products. Therefore the on-purpose production of higher olefins is gaining more and more importance.

Butadiene is a monomer used for the production of polymers, paper coating and synthetic rubber mainly for the tyre production. Butenes are building blocks which are used in the chemical and in refining industries.