Sulfuric Acid Catalysts
Sulfuric Acid Catalysts for High Conversion and Low Emissions
BASF Sulfuric Acid Catalysts enable high conversion, low SO₂ emissions, and reliable operation at lowest total cost. Designed for industrial performance, they help you meet regulatory requirements without additional emission abatement, while increasing plant efficiency and profitability.
Our portfolio combines proven catalyst technologies with continuous innovation, including O4‑116 Quattro and X3D®. These solutions deliver improved conversion, reduced energy consumption, and stable long-term operation. Thanks to their high physical stability, BASF catalysts minimize downtime risks and extend operating cycles.
These benefits are backed by decades of industrial experience and proven plant performance. BASF supports you with dedicated technical service, from performance optimization to on-site support, to help you achieve reliable, efficient operation over the full catalyst lifetime.
Why BASF?
Because BASF designs sulfuric acid catalysts to maximize outcomes, their exceptional stability and large surface area deliver consistent, lasting results. Our customers receive a longer-lasting catalyst with exceptionally low SO2 emissions, energy savings and reduced downtime risks, which translates to improved regulatory compliance, saved costs and more profit. Our knowledgeable specialists deliver all that along with dedicated customer support.
X3D® - Next generation performance in industrial production
BASF’s X3D® technology is an additive manufacturing solution for catalysts based on 3D printing. It creates catalysts with an open structure that reduces pressure drop and increases surface area, improving reactor performance and lowering energy consumption. The technology can be applied to a wide range of established catalytic materials and has been used in industrial plants for many years, including O4‑115 X3D®. In 2026, BASF started up the world’s first industrial‑scale production plant for 3D‑printed catalysts to supply customers globally.
The Quattro family - continuously optimized for industrial performance
Since pioneering vanadium-based sulfuric acid catalysts in 1913, BASF continues to advance catalyst performance. The Quattro family builds on this legacy with a unique shape that increases surface area, strength, and lifetime—improving conversion, reducing emissions, and enabling higher plant capacity.
Technologies and Services
BASF catalysts are proven in our own plants and designed to deliver reliable performance in yours, supporting stable operation across a wide range of applications—from fertilizers and chemicals to metals and petrochemicals.
Working with BASF means optimizing your plant performance at every stage of the catalyst lifecycle. We support you to:
- maximize conversion and plant efficiency
- optimize performance and reduce emissions
- ensure stable, reliable operation
- minimize downtime risks and extend operating cycles
Our technical services include evaluation, optimization, and hands-on plant support, from sample analysis to on-site assistance and catalyst handling, helping you achieve consistent, efficient performance over time.
