Phthalic Anhydride Catalysts

BASF provides phthalic anhydride (PA) catalysts for the production of phthalic anhydride from the oxidation of o-Xylene and naphthalene or mixed feed. Our products and services are continually reviewed through regular BASF PA Catalyst Customer Forum meetings to ensure they align with our customers’ needs. We innovate to help customers succeed.

For PA producers, BASF's o-Xylene catalysts offer safe operation at a maximum capacity of up to 100 g/Nm³ feed. Our naphthalene and mixed feed catalysts offer superior PA yield. In both cases, superior PA quality is guaranteed by expert technical service and a long-term commitment to innovation, which we demonstrate in our reference list – the longest in the world – and our in-house operations.

Why BASF?

BASF has produced phthalic anhydride for over 140 years and researched PA catalysts for more than 120 years. Since 1837, our site in Ludwigshafen, Germany has produced more than 4 million tons of PA. We have worked with post reactors since 1980, and we have more than 80 years of experience in the loading and start-up supervision of phthalic anhydride catalysts. With those decades of accumulated knowledge and insight, we stand behind our products.

When it comes to BASF’s offerings, delivering products to the customer site is just the beginning. Our technical service representatives in Asia, Europe and America ensure products always perform and deliver exceptional value to users. They do that with extensive professional expertise in phthalic anhydride catalysts, including hands-on operational experience in supervision, start-up assistance, and catalyst performance optimization.

Our expertise includes:

O-Xylene and naphthalene/mixed feed oxidation in fixed bed process
O-Xylene loadings up to 100 g/Nm3
Supply of complete catalyst filling and measurement equipment on loan basis, including 5-tube, 10-tube and 20-tube catalyst filling machines
Optimization of catalyst operation condition using portable COx analyzers
Verification of air flow measurements by total combustion

Technologies

Whether you work with o-Xylene feed or naphthalene/mixed feed phthalic anhydride catalysts, BASF products provide a wide range of benefits such as higher yield, improved selective and active layers, better stability, and overall exceptional quality and performance.