BASF Catalysts' NanoSelect technology platform receives Green Excellence Award from Frost & Sullivan

Iselin, NJ, August 06, 2009 - BASF Catalysts has received the Frost & Sullivan 2009 North American Green Excellence Award for Technology Innovation in the field of nanocatalysts. The award was presented in recognition of BASF’s NanoSelect™ catalyst technology platform, which provides a lead-free alternative to Lindlar catalysts that have long been used in hydrogenation.

 

 “We are honored to receive this award, which is a testament to BASF Catalysts’ commitment to research and development, and our ability to produce products that are both innovative and environmentally friendly,” said Wilfried Seyfert, BASF Catalysts’ Global Vice President, Process Catalysts & Technologies.

 

 Increasingly stringent environmental laws and the high price of palladium has made a case for greener and better performing catalysts, such as BASF’s NanoSelect™ LF 100 and NanoSelect™ LF 200. These products offer superior catalytic behavior and controlled flexibility in the manufacturing process for heterogeneous catalysts on an industrial scale.  The choice of a catalyst for hydrogenation is primarily based on catalyst productivity versus total cost of the process, the cost of the apparatus, and the extent of selectivity toward the desired product versus high process productivity.  BASF has ensured that its NanoSelect™ catalysts meet these criteria.

 

“NanoSelect™ LF 100 and LF 200 are the first two commercially available catalysts produced from the NanoSelect™ technology,” noted Frost & Sullivan Analysts Archana Jayarajah and Arjun Bindingnavalle Sampathkumar. “Both catalysts are unique in that they are the first lead-free replacements for Lindlar catalysts and enable substantial cost reduction by using a ten-fold lower weight percentage of palladium.”

 

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents the Green Excellence Award for Technology Innovation to those companies that demonstrate superior technological advancement that is aligned with a sustainable and environmentally conscious objective within its industry sector. The award signifies the company's identification of a unique and revolutionary solution with significant environmental benefits, while also presenting tremendous market potential. Moreover, the award signifies that the company's overall business strategy is sound and poised for success.