BASF Researchers Present On Range Of Topics At North American Catalysis Society Meeting

ISELIN, NJ, June 20, 2007— Scientists from BASF Catalysis Research are making several presentations, including a keynote address, at the 20th North American Meeting of the North American Catalysis Society (NACS) in Houston Texas, June 17 to 22. The BASF Catalysts Division is also a main sponsor of the meeting, which brings together leading experts in all aspects of catalysis.

In their presentations, the BASF scientists are focusing on the development of next- generation catalyst products for the refining and chemical industries, and advances in the manufacture of catalysts. David M. Stockwell, senior research associate, is a keynote speaker at the meeting. His paper, “Towards a New Generation of FCC NOx Additives,” discusses possible NOx reduction strategies that seek to control CO emissions, as well as potentially avoid the capital expense and operating issues of selective catalytic reduction (SCR).

“Our significant professional presence at the North American Meeting this year demonstrates the depth of our capabilities and commitment to advancing the science of catalysis,” said Dr. Friedbert Nees, Senior Vice President and Head of BASF’s Global Catalysis Research. “The combination of BASF and Engelhard has created the world’s leading supplier of process and environmental catalysts as well as the deepest catalysis research team in the industry.”
BASF formed the Catalysts Division last June after purchasing Engelhard Corporation in the largest acquisition of BASF’s 143-year history. Headquartered in Iselin, NJ, the newly formed division employs nearly 5,000 people, operating in 35 locations worldwide.

The new Catalysis Research Department, with more than 600 researchers worldwide, is part of BASF’s global technology platform, Chemicals Research and Engineering, where the ammonia catalyst was originally developed, and is also headquartered in Iselin, New Jersey.

The North American Catalysis Society’s biennial meeting features 15 scientific sessions, covering a broad range of subjects, such as: new catalytic materials and supports; technology for protection of the environment; new synthesis methods; and hydroprocessing. This year’s meeting is expected to bring more than 1,000 of the world’s leading catalysis scientists, chemists and engineers to Houston.

Along with BASF, some 38 major companies will co-sponsor this year’s meeting,
including Air Products, Chevron, Degussa, DOW, ExxonMobil, Saint Gobain, and Shell.

Topics being presented by BASF scientists at the North American Meeting this week include:

Development of the next generation vinyl acetate catalyst: Ronald T. Mentz, Dr. Geoffrey T. White and Ronald L. Jagta
Operating characteristics for two precious metal monolithic water gas shift catalysts for hydrogen generation: Wolfgang Ruettinger, Oleg Ilinich, and Robert J. Farrauto
Activation and Deactivation Mechanisms of Rhodium/Alumina Catalysts: Xiaolin Yang
Transition Metal Promoters for Pd in Methanol Reforming Applications: Christopher R.Castellano; Ahmad Moini; Gerald S. Koermer; Ye Liu; Robert J. Farrauto
Comparing Nickel and Vanadium Passivation with FCC Catalysts in Laboratory Microactivity Studies: Mingting Xu; Rostam J. Madon
New Cs-containing Structural Analogues of Mo-V-Nb-Te-O Type Oxides – Highly Prospective Catalysts for the Partial Oxidation of Methacrolein to Methacrylic Acid: Stephan Schunk, HTE Aktiengesellschaft, Heidelberg Germany; Hartmut Hibst (BASF AG Germany); Andreas Sundermann, HTE Aktiengesellschaft, Heidelberg Germany

BASF Catalysts, part of the BASF Group, offers exceptional expertise in the development of technologies that protect the air we breathe, produce the fuels that power our world, and ensure efficient production of a wide variety of chemicals, plastics, adsorbents and other products.

BASF is the world's leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio
ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural products, and fine chemicals to crude oil and natural gas. As a reliable partner to virtually all industries, BASF's high-value products and intelligent system solutions help its customers to be more successful. BASF develops new technologies and uses them to meet the challenges of the future and open up additional market opportunities. It combines economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility, thus contributing to a better future.

BASF has approximately 95,000 employees and posted sales of €52.6 billion in 2006. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA), New York (BF), and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

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