ChiPros – new production facility

Published: 18-Apr-2002


BASF has completed its investment programme for the production of optically active intermediates to satisfy increasing demand by life science customers. The new plants are improvements on BASF's proprietary technology and remove the limitations of the previously used facilities.

Optically active intermediates are mainly used as building blocks or auxiliaries in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals and BASF is using the new ChiPros (Chiral Products) to market and differentiate its unique chiral intermediates portfolio.

Three new production plants for the manufacturing of ChiPros are now in operation: one at Geismar, Louisiana, US; and two sites at Ludwigshafen, Germany.

A proprietary biocatalytic enzymatic process is the basis for a multi-product cGMP facility with a capacity exceeding 1,000t/yr. The plant produces optically active amines and is capable of manufacturing chiral alcohols as well.

Also in Ludwigshafen, production of R-mandelic acid has started, and again a biocatalytic process is used to manufacture this pharmaceutical intermediate. The US plant manufactures intermediates for the agrochemical industry.

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