BASF Opens New Refinery Catalyst R&D Center in Georgia

BASF has inaugurated a new state-of-the-art research and development center focused on advancing refinery catalyst technologies. Strategically located at the company’s largest global refinery catalyst production site in Attapulgus, Georgia, the facility is designed to strengthen collaboration among R&D, process engineering, and operations teams. This close integration will help ensure that innovations developed in the laboratory can be rapidly scaled for commercial production.

The new center is expected to accelerate innovation cycles and enhance production testing capabilities, enabling the refinery catalysts team to bring advanced catalyst solutions to market more efficiently. It also serves as a central hub for operational and analytical excellence, supported by modern quality assurance and quality control laboratories.

At the core of the facility’s work are product development and advanced Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) testing, reinforcing BASF’s role in improving refinery performance through enhanced process efficiency, optimized product yields, and increased profitability.

By integrating R&D activities directly within a production environment, BASF is better positioned to align innovation with real-world manufacturing conditions and customer requirements, allowing for more customized solutions developed in close collaboration with clients.

Marius Vaarkamp, Global R&D Directory Refinery Catalysts at BASF said "As an extension of BASF’s R&D Verbund, Attapulgus will harness world-class knowledge and capabilities, paired with advanced digital tools, to address the needs of the global customer base of BASF’s refinery catalysts business. The proximity of the R&D center to our operational teams will ensure that we continue to deliver solutions that drive refinery performance and create lasting value for our partners globally."

Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) is a key refining process that utilizes heat and catalysts to transform heavy oils and alternative feedstocks into lighter, high-value products, including gasoline, LPG, and olefins. The technology maximizes the efficiency of existing refinery infrastructure while supporting the use of lower-carbon, circular feedstocks and enhancing overall energy efficiency.

Source: BASF