BASF and Linde signed cooperation agreement on sublicensing BASF’s technology for high purity isobutylene (HPIB)
Demand for high-purity isobutylene makes it one of the fastest growing chemical intermediate markets worldwide. It is used in a wide variety of high-value applications such as butyl rubber, polyisobutylene (PIB) and (poly) methyl methacrylate (PMMA).
With the signature of a comprehensive cooperation agreement between BASF and Linde in 2019, Linde is now offering licensing and engineering and/or bundled services for engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) for BASF’s superior technology enabling the production of HPIB from refinery and steam cracker C4 streams.
Not only does this technology represent a step change in process economics compared with other HPIB production routes, it also offers the following technical benefits:
With this HPIB production method, which was previously largely captive, licensees can now profit from the experience gained by BASF through decades of commercial operation across numerous plants coupled with a process of continuous improvement. The HPIB process can be easily integrated into the C4 value chain of both steam crackers and refineries.