BASF to start menthol production at Ludwigshafen

The new production plant for L-menthol will come on stream at BASF’s Ludwigshafen site in summer 2012. It will produce L-menthol with a purity of at least 99.7 per cent from the starting material citral.

LUDWIGSHAFEN, GERMANY: BASF plans to put the world’s largest production plant for nature-identical menthol into operation in summer 2012. BASF has developed a new process based on the aroma chemical citral which is already produced in BASF’s Verbund system. The new process not only saves time but is more resource-efficient because more L-menthol with a purity of at least 99.7 per cent can be produced using the same amount of starting materials. The new production plant for L-menthol will come on stream at BASF’s Ludwigshafen site to meet the high global demand that can no longer be adequately met by plant-based manufacture alone.

“Menthol is probably the most important flavouring ingredient used in oral care products. It is present in almost all toothpastes, mouthwashes and other oral care products and makes for fresh breath and a clean feeling in the mouth. For us it is absolutely essential always to have an adequate supply of menthol of consistently high quality. Exactly this will be achieved with BASF’s new production process- high purity, nature-identical menthol in sufficient quantities, not just for dental and oral care products, but also for perfumes, ointments to relieve cold symptoms or even grill sauces,” said Clare Collett-Williams, Head of Oral Care, Givaudan UK Ltd.

© WOC News