BASF to present BASIL™ ionic liquid process at technology transfer forum

BASF to present BASIL™ ionic liquid process at technology transfer forum'Smart' process improves yields, economics of chemical operations
MOUNT OLIVE, N.J., May 10, 2004 -- Dr. Uwe Vagt, New Business Development, for BASF's Intermediates Division in Ludwigshafen, Germany, will present BASF's proprietary BASIL technology that utilizes ionic liquids to improve chemical operations on a commercial scale. The presentation will be at 9:30 a.m., on Monday, May 10, 2004, at the 21st Annual International Technology Transfer Forum, hosted by Technology Catalysts, at the Hyatt Regency Reston Town Center in Reston, Va.
BASF's BASIL (Biphasic Acid Scavenging utilizing Ionic Liquids) "smart" process technology economically solves several chemical processing problems associated with acid production during some chemical reactions.
Many organic chemical processes, such as esterifications, produce byproduct acids that must be scavenged in order to prevent decomposition of the primary reaction product, or to prevent unwanted side-reactions. To address this problem, tertiary amines, such as triethylamine, are typically added to the reaction mixture, resulting in the production of a solid ammonium salt. This solid presents a host of problems, including reduction of heat transfer and reaction rates, reduction of yields, and solids separation.
The BASIL process economically avoids the problems resulting from solids generation by making use of ionic liquids to scavenge acids. Instead of using a tertiary amine, a 1-alkylimidazole is used to scavenge acids produced. As the imidazole reacts with the acid, an alkylimidazolium salt is formed which is an ionic liquid at the reaction temperature. As a liquid, the alkylimidazolium salt can be easily removed by a liquid-liquid phase separation. In addition, economic reclamation of the 1-alkylimidazole through deprotonation is possible.
Ionic liquid technology provides the added advantage of having the alkylimidazole act as a nucleophilic catalyst, thereby improving reaction rates, and increasing yields and selectivities.
BASF representatives will be available throughout the technology transfer forum to answer questions and discuss potential licenses for this innovative technology.
Details about the Technology Catalysts 21st Annual International Technology Transfer Forum can be found at http://www.technology-catalysts.com//.
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For more information, contact:Bill PaganoBASFTel: (973)426-2139E-mail: paganow@basf.com