Faster FCC catalyst development for refineries: New R&D facility by BASF
Last update on May 19, 2026
BASF has opened a new research and development center for refinery catalysts at its Attapulgus, Georgia site, its largest refinery catalyst production facility globally.
The co-location of R&D and production at Attapulgus is intended to shorten the path from laboratory development to scaled manufacturing.
Visit BASF's full supplier profile to know latest product developments!
Supporting use of lower-carbon and circular feedstocks
According to BASF, proximity between R&D, process engineering, and operations teams is designed to ensure that catalyst solutions validated at lab scale can be transferred to production conditions more efficiently. The facility includes quality assurance and quality control laboratories positioned as a central resource for both product development and operational testing.
FCC catalyst development and advanced FCC testing are described by BASF as the core focus of the laboratory's work. FCC is a refinery process that uses a catalyst and heat to convert heavy oil and alternative feedstocks into lighter products including gasoline, LPG, and olefins.
BASF indicates the technology supports the use of lower-carbon and circular feedstocks alongside improvements in energy efficiency. For formulators working on process efficiency, product yields, or feedstock flexibility, the facility's output is intended to support closer customization of catalyst solutions in collaboration with customers.
Marius Vaarkamp, Global R&D director Refinery Catalysts at BASF, stated, “We are grateful for the dedication and expertise of our refinery catalyst team, and our broader engineering and R&D community, whose relentless commitment to best-in-class innovation has made this new R&D center a reality,” said Marius Vaarkamp, Global R&D Director Refinery Catalysts at BASF.
“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.”
You can review BASF's product range and compare grades directly in the Master Catalog of Additives.
Image credits: BASF