LANXESS, a specialty chemicals company, has doubled its production capacity for benzyl alcohol at its U.S. site in Kalama, Washington. The capacity expansion is the result of various technical upgrades and will grow the established customer base in North America.

Benzyl alcohol is used as a preservative, solvent, fragrance fixative, and intermediate. It is highly valued for its low volatility and low toxicity. The colorless liquid with a mild aroma is suitable for many customers’ needs.

“With our innovative purification process, LANXESS is the world’s leading producer of benzyl alcohol. The Kalama site now serves as the central hub in our global plant network of four sites producing high-purity benzyl alcohol,” said Holger Hueppeler, global head of LANXESS’ Flavors & Fragrances business unit. “By doubling Kalama’s production capacity, we can provide fast international deliveries and offer a resilient supply chain that can cope with increasing geopolitical uncertainties.”

The parenteral grade of the benzyl alcohol from LANXESS has a purity of 99.9%, offering the highest quality for pharmaceutical products. It is an effective, high purity preservative for personal care products and cosmetics. The stable odor profile is beneficial in the production of fragrances and food flavorings. It can also be used as a solvent in technical applications. The technical grade benzyl alcohol is an excellent solvent and starting material in chemical synthesis.

To learn more, visit www.lanxess.com.