- LANXESS is investing a seven-figure EUR amount in Leverkusen.
- The project will be completed in the first half of 2019.
- Ion exchange resins are used to extract lithium, nickel, and cobalt.
- LANXESS also produces ion exchange resins in Bitterfeld, Germany, and Jhagadia, India.
Investment in Leverkusen Facility
Specialty chemicals company LANXESS is investing a seven-figure EUR amount to optimize its ion exchange resin production facility in Leverkusen, Germany. The project aims to enhance process technology and operating efficiency, with completion scheduled for the first half of 2019.
Rising Demand in Electromobility
The demand for ion exchange resins is increasing, particularly in the battery industry due to the trend toward electromobility. These resins are essential for extracting metals like lithium, nickel, and cobalt, which are crucial for battery cell production.
Applications of Ion Exchange Resins
Ion exchange resins are polymer beads that absorb undesirable substances in fluids. They are used in household applications such as water softening in dishwashers and water filters, improving the quality and taste of drinking water. In power plants, they help produce highly purified water and steam, preventing deposits and corrosion, thereby increasing efficiency and operational safety. Additionally, they remove heavy metals and organic pollutants from groundwater and industrial wastewater.
Global Production and Workforce
Besides Leverkusen, LANXESS operates ion exchange resin production plants in Bitterfeld, Germany, and Jhagadia, India. The company also manufactures reverse osmosis membrane filters in Bitterfeld. The Liquid Purification Technologies (LPT) business unit, headed by Bettina Blottko, employs around 530 people worldwide, with approximately 120 based in Leverkusen.
