Chemical Catalysts and Adsorbents

Unlocking value at the heart of your process

From improving plant performance to ensuring product quality and reducing emissions - our  catalyst and adsorbent solutions help customers create value today and open opportunities for tomorrow by turning process challenges into measurable solutions. 

LATEST NEWS: BASF starts up the world’s first production plant for 3D-printed catalysts in Ludwigshafen
BASF started up the world’s first production plant for catalysts based on X3D® technology at its Ludwigshafen site. With the commissioning of this facility, BASF is scaling the additive manufacturing of catalysts to an industrial level and strengthening its leading role in innovative solutions for the chemical industry.
Learn more here.

What are you trying to improve?

Every process challenge is different. Whether you want to increase efficiency, stabilize operation, safeguard product quality, reduce emissions, or identify new opportunities across your value chain, We guide you to the best solution. Working closely with you to understand your specific process challenges, we tailor solutions to your needs, supported by our global R&D and local expertise for reliable and efficient plant performance.

Adsorbents
Adsorbents
Advanced adsorption solutions for removing contaminants across refining, petrochemical, chemical, and gas processing applications.
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Custom Catalysts
We develop tailored catalyst solutions for your process, combining BASF’s manufacturing capabilities and expertise to optimize your plant performance.
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Hydrogenation Catalysts
Our hydrogenation and specialty catalysts portfolio helps you increase conversion, improve selectivity, and ensure reliable operation across a wide range of industrial processes. 
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Licensing Business
BASF licensing integrates process technology, catalysts, and expertise to design efficient, reliable, and commercially optimized chemical production processes.
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Oxidation Catalysts
Oxidation and dehydrogenation processes are highly sensitive to catalyst performance - with our solutions, you improve selectivity, increase conversion, and reduce energy use.
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Sustainable Solutions
We support you in lowering emissions, improving resource efficiency, and enabling the use of renewable feedstocks, while ensuring efficient, reliable, and profitable plant operation.
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X3D® Technology
By combining 3D printing with established production know‑how, X3D® enables reliable, scalable, and large‑volume supply for industrial applications. 
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Global expertise. Local understanding. Practical solutions.

Our global catalyst and adsorbent expertise is strengthened by local teams close to customers’ operations. By understanding process realities on the ground and connecting them with BASF’s technical, manufacturing, application, and R&D capabilities, we help customers move from challenge to measurable solution.

Catalyst Development and Solids Processing Center
Learn about BASF's new facility and its fascinating capabilities. 
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BASF Refinery Map
Overview of BASF's innovative FCC catalysts, hydrogenation catalysts, and adsorbents for refinery applications.
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News

Date
BASF already supplies several internal and external customers with X3D catalysts. Here, the reactor of a chemical plant at BASF’s Ludwigshafen site is being filled. Photo: BASF
Trade News | March 19, 2026

BASF starts up the world’s first production plant for 3D-printed catalysts in Ludwigshafen

Ludwigshafen, March 19, 2026 – BASF today started up the world’s first production plant for catalysts based on X3D® technology at its Ludwigshafen site. With the commissioning of this facility, BASF is scaling the additive manufacturing of catalysts to an industrial level and strengthening its leading role in innovative solutions for the chemical industry.
Read more
Business & Financial News | December 3, 2025

Nobel Prize for MOFs: Nanostructures enable large-scale extraction of carbon dioxide from the air

BASF produces metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for CO₂ capture on an industrial scale. These nanostructures can absorb large quantities of molecules on their surface. For the development of these MOF structures, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm will award this year’s Nobel Prize in Chemistry on December 10, 2025.
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Trade News | September 30, 2025

BASF’s SYNSPIRE® G1-110 catalyst enhances steam efficiency at Nan Ya Plastics Corp’ 2-Ethylhexanol Plant, accelerating sustainable operations

September 30, 2025 – In early 2024, Nan Ya Plastics Corporation (Nan Ya). installed BASF’s SYNSPIRE G1-110 catalyst at its 2-Ethylhexanol (2-EH) Mailiao site. With the installation, Nan Ya Plastics has been able to reduce the annual steam consumption of the site by approximately 40,000 metric tons and has avoided 38,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions.
(Only available in English)
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Trade News | May 7, 2025

BASF partners with Plug Power to deploy purification solutions in their advanced hydrogen liquefaction plants

BASF announced today the signing of a Cooperation Agreement with Plug Power (NASDAQ: PLUG), a global leader in comprehensive solutions for the green hydrogen economy, positioning BASF’s advanced DeOxo catalysts as an offer within Plug Power’s hydrogen liquefaction plants globally to enhance their market offerings, improving reliability and cost efficiency.
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Trade News | November 12, 2024

BASF to build additional production capacity for X3D® catalyst shaping technology in Ludwigshafen

BASF announced today that it will invest in additional production capacity for its X3D® technology, a new additive manufacturing technology for catalysts based on 3D printing. The plant will produce catalysts on an industrial scale and is expected to be operational in 2026. 
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