One hundred and twenty-five years young – LANXESS sulfuric acid plant celebrates its birthday

New production line and new laboratory building in Leverkusen are close to completion

Leverkusen – It is LANXESS’ most long-standing production facility in Leverkusen, but also one of the most modern ones of its kind in Europe – the sulfuric acid plant. For 125 years, chemicals have been produced here that are still needed today in many different areas of production and life.

Over the years, the plant – which today employs around 140 people – has undergone constant development. In keeping with its anniversary, the latest stage of modernization is now close to completion. A production line, which will increase the capacity for chemically pure sulfuric acid, and a laboratory building with a state-of-the-art infrastructure will be commissioned in the coming weeks. LANXESS has invested several million euros in this project.

“The sulfuric acid plant is the heart of LANXESS’ inorganic production network in Leverkusen. Without this plant and its impressive history and state-of-the-art technology, Leverkusen would not be able to produce chemicals in the form in which it does today. And it is impressive how this facility with its workforce continues to develop,” said Hubert Fink, member of the LANXESS AG Board of Management.

“This plant has always been a driving force for the development of the chemical industry in our city and beyond, because sulfuric acid is an important primary product for innovative applications,” said Mayor Uwe Richrath, summing up the importance of the sulfuric acid plant for Leverkusen.

The multi-talented sulfuric acid – used in IT, electric vehicle applications and food

Sulfuric acid is just as in demand today as it was in 1894 and is used in a variety of innovative fields. For example, it is a primary product for the manufacture of batteries for electric vehicles and also plays a key role in the production of computer chips. Due to its high degree of purity, LANXESS sulfuric acid is even approved for food production. The inorganic acid is used in an extremely diluted form as a technical auxiliary material and the additive E 513 in dairies for making products such as cheese, but also in sugar factories and in drinking water treatment. The E 513 food additive can also be used for organic products. Sulfuric acid is generally not found in the end product; if it is, it is only in small traces.

High tech behind the historic walls

The history of the LANXESS sulfuric acid plant began in 1894. Even today, a 36-meter-long part of the building façade provides a reminder of the long history of the plant – a red brick wall that was built at the beginning of the 20th century. This building wall was therefore preserved during the renovation of the plant in 2002. “We planned our modernization around the façade,” explained production manager Thomas Hellmich. The result of the modernization at that time was what is known as a double-contact system, which has been the centerpiece of the plant ever since. A further expansion took place in 2013. LANXESS produces up to 220,000 metric tons of 100 percent sulfuric acid here every year.

Contribution to recycling management

Preserving resources and ensuring closed-loop material cycles are two important goals for LANXESS. The sulfuric acid plant in Leverkusen makes a vital contribution to achieving these goals. Used and contaminated sulfuric acids (spent acids) can be burned at very high temperatures (approximately 1,000°C) and converted back to the pure, high-quality sulfuric acid that is desired.

LANXESS is a leading specialty chemicals company with sales of EUR 7.2 billion in 2018. The company currently has about 15,400 employees in 33 countries and is represented at 60 production sites worldwide. The core business of LANXESS is the development, manufacturing and marketing of chemical intermediates, additives, specialty chemicals and plastics. LANXESS is listed in the leading sustainability indices Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI World and Europe) and FTSE4Good.

Cologne, 	September 19, 2019
mm		(2019-00088e)

Forward-Looking Statements
This company release contains certain forward-looking statements, including assumptions, opinions, expectations and views of the company or cited from third party sources. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause the actual results, financial position, development or performance of LANXESS AG to differ materially from the estimations expressed or implied herein. LANXESS AG does not guarantee that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors nor does it accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the opinions expressed in this presentation or the actual occurrence of the forecast developments. No representation or warranty (expressed or implied) is made as to, and no reliance should be placed on, any information, estimates, targets and opinions, contained herein, and no liability whatsoever is accepted as to any errors, omissions or misstatements contained herein, and accordingly, no representative of LANXESS AG or any of its affiliated companies or any of such person's officers, directors or employees accept any liability whatsoever arising directly or indirectly from the use of this document.

Information for editors:
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