LANXESS at Chemspec Europe 2025

At this year’s Chemspec Europe, LANXESS will present its comprehensive product portfolio and expertise for numerous industrial sectors. These include products and solutions for agriculture/crop protection, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and personal care, as well as household and industrial cleaning. In addition, the specialty chemicals company will be presenting intermediates for the plastics and rubber processing industries and for material protection, as well as innovative concepts and solutions for the electronics and battery tech sectors. LANXESS will be exhibiting at Chemspec Europe for the first time with six business units, including its subsidiary Saltigo. The 38th International Trade Fair for Fine and Specialty Chemicals will take place on June 4 and 5, 2025, in Cologne.

Catalyzed reactions are on the rise

Catalytic synthesis methods are very important in the industrial production of active ingredients and fine chemicals. As the key to efficient use of raw materials and energy while maintaining high product quality, they are the focus of this year’s presentation by exclusive synthesis specialist Saltigo. With its custom manufacturing services, Saltigo offers tailor-made solutions for companies involved in the synthesis of complex molecules or requiring highly specific substances.

Focus on sustainability

Saltigo also has extensive experience in the production of various phosgene derivatives, including chloroformates. These important intermediates are used, among other things, to manufacture crop protection products, pharmaceutical ingredients, and polycarbonates. Saltigo now offers its chloroformates in a sustainable ECO version. To this end, the company uses “green” chlorine and electricity from renewable energies, thereby lowering the product carbon footprint (PCF) by up to 40 percent. A further reduction is possible, for example, through the use of sustainably produced methanol or steam from renewable sources.

Biocides maintain product quality

LANXESS biocides offer outstanding protection against a wide range of microorganisms. They meet the stringent customer requirements of various industries such as low volatile organic compounds (VOC). These include industrial sectors such as paints and coatings, adhesives, and construction materials. With their robust antimicrobial properties, biocides effectively inhibit or prevent the growth of bacteria, fungi, and algae, thereby maintaining the quality of industrial products.

Antimicrobial additives for in-can protection

LANXESS offers a range of special biocidal solutions for agriculture. They combat microorganisms and increase productivity. The products BIOBAN, KATHON, and ROCIMA are approved as preservatives for agricultural pesticides under the “Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act” (FIFRA) of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). LANXESS also offers regulatory and technical expertise for a broad portfolio of preservatives that are compatible with most agricultural pesticide formulations, such as suspension concentrates.

High-quality industrial chemicals for further processing

Benzyl alcohol is one of the product highlights among industrial chemicals with a wide range of applications. It is used as a preservative, solvent, fragrance fixative, and intermediate product. The colorless liquid has a pleasant, mild aroma and is suitable for a wide variety of customer requirements. The NF/FCC quality grade meets the requirements of the United States National Formulary (NF) and the Food Chemicals Codex (FCC), making benzyl alcohol an effective, high-purity preservative for personal care products and cosmetics. In its medical version, Kalama Benzyl Alcohol Parenteral Grade has a purity of 99.9 percent, is double distilled, free of chlorinated compounds and water, low in particles and toluene-free. This ensures the highest quality for pharmaceutical products, for example as a preservative for injection solutions (approved by the United States Pharmacopeia, USP, and the European Pharmacopoeia, EP).

Benzoic acid for versatile applications

Benzoic acid is used in numerous applications as a nature-identical preservative. Due to its high purity, Purox B offers excellent properties such as low odor formation and no discoloration. In combination with multifunctionals and surfactants, the preservative performance can be further enhanced.

In alkyd synthesis, benzoic acid acts as a building block and chain terminator, giving the final film gloss, adhesion, hardness, and chemical resistance. In addition, the chemical protects against corrosion and flash rust when formulated into products such as automotive coolants and architectural coatings. As a special additive, benzoic acid is used in the manufacture of high-strength HDPE filaments and thermoplastic elastomers, improves the finish of synthetic polyester fibers, and acts as a temporary plugging agent in subterranean formations for downhole mud drilling. The product is readily biodegradable and approved for use under green label certifications such as the EU Ecolabel, COSMOS, and Nordic Swan.

Versatile benzaldehyde

Benzaldehyde is a useful aromatic aldehyde for industrial applications. It is often used as a non-reactive diluent in epoxy resin coatings to reduce viscosity and increase product flexibility. With a strong commitment to sustainability, LANXESS has had five production sites certified to ISCC+ for this product line. The mass balance method for raw materials is used, which significantly reduces the products’ carbon footprint (PCF) while maintaining their original properties and premium quality. In addition, LANXESS already uses renewable energy at selected sites and is thus able to reduce its own Scope 1 & 2 emissions. Verified PCF data, calculated according to a method certified by TÜV Rheinland, ensures transparency and accuracy. The calculations follow the ISO 14067 standards and the guidelines of the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi).

Enhanced process efficiency and sustainability

Lewatit ion exchange resins play a crucial role in various industrial applications by enhancing process efficiency and sustainability. Lewatit catalysts facilitate various chemical reactions to yield important intermediates such as bisphenol A for polycarbonate production or to access highly pure silicon for semiconductors. In the recycling and purification of battery materials (lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper) and the recovery of valuable metals (palladium, platinum, etc.) from wastewater, the resins enable the circular use of pivotal resources, minimizing waste and raw material demand. Tailor-made Lewatit types employed in the removal of harmful substances such as PFAS from groundwater also help contributing to a cleaner environment and a responsible use of water. Within the last few years, LANXESS’ efforts to enable sustainability have been complemented by the Lewatit Scopeblue product family consisting of ion exchange resins with carbon dioxide footprints reduced by up to 60% compared to their conventional counterparts.

Polymer additives as basis for complex molecules

LANXESS’ portfolio of polymer additives includes a large variety of products such as flame retardants, plasticizers, high performance colorants, and hydrolysis stabilizers, as well as phosphorus- and bromine-based agrochemicals, pharmaceutical precursors, fine chemicals and solutions for water treatment as well as additives for high performance rubbers, polymers and biocides.

The company is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of bromine, brominated intermediates and phosphorus chemicals, which serve as building blocks for the production of complex molecules. Customers benefit from a global purchasing network, which ensures sustainable access to the required raw materials, particularly through the backward integration into bromine.

Industrial intermediates, chemical base materials and fine chemicals

In the area of intermediates, chemical base materials and fine chemicals, LANXESS combines long-standing production expertise with innovative development and global supply chain capabilities. The portfolio includes chlorobenzenes and cresols, which are used in agrochemicals, fragrances and flavors, animal feed, food, and high-tech plastics. It also includes specialty amines and high-quality toluidines with a wide range of applications.

The company’s phosphorus specialties are used, among other applications, as solvents and catalysts in chemical synthesis.

Organometallic compounds from LANXESS are essential for the production of polymers, fine chemicals, semiconductors, photovoltaic modules, and anti-corrosion coatings.

LANXESS’ inorganic acids, such as hydrofluoric acid, are used in the production of pharmaceuticals, agricultural applications, and lithium batteries, among other things. The portfolio also includes hydrazine hydrate and thionyl chloride, both of which are important chemicals in the synthesis of crop protection agents. And the company’s high-quality basic and fine chemicals, including polyols such as trimethylolpropane and oxidation products such as hexanediol and adipic acid, are used in the manufacture of polyester resins, coatings and construction material additives.

Further information is available at https://lanxess.com/en/products-and-brands.