BASF boosts refinery catalyst innovation with new R&D center in Attapulgus, Georgia

• The laboratory focuses on applied research for next-generation fluid catalytic cracking catalysts

ATTAPULGUS, GA, May 18, 2026 – BASF has opened a new, state-of-the-art research and development center for advancements in refinery catalysts. The facility is strategically co-located at BASF's largest refinery catalyst production site globally, in Attapulgus, Georgia. 

The proximity will allow for greater collaboration between R&D, process engineering, and operations teams ensuring that the innovations developed are not only performing in the lab but can be scaled up quickly. With faster innovation cycles and robust production testing, the refinery catalysts team will be able to bring advanced catalyst solutions to market more efficiently. The R&D center also serves as a central hub for operational and analytical excellence, anchored by modern quality assurance and quality control labs.  

Product development and advanced Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) testing are at the core of the laboratory’s work and position BASF technologies as a critical enabler of refinery performance, improving process efficiency, product yields, and overall profitability. By locating R&D at a production site, BASF is closer to real-world manufacturing operations conditions and end-use requirements, allowing for greater customization of solutions in close collaboration with customers.   

"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 Directory 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." 

FCC is a core refinery process that uses a catalyst and heat to convert heavy oil and alternative feedstocks into lighter, high-value products such as gasoline, LPG and olefins. The technology efficiently uses existing refinery assets while enabling lower-carbon, circular feedstocks and improved energy efficiency. 

For more information about BASF in Georgia, visit BASF in Georgia.

About BASF’s refinery catalysts  

BASF is a pioneer in innovative catalysts for the petroleum refining industry. We offer tailored Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) catalysts based on individual refinery's specific feedstock and desired output. Our solutions provide feed flexibility and sustainable options for all FCC units. With a strong focus on customer-driven research and development, BASF continuously innovates its FCC refining catalysts portfolio, creating new technologies that enhance operational efficiency and profitability in the refining industry.  

About BASF

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 15,600 employees in North America and had sales of $18.1 billion in 2025. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.com/us.

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. Our ambition: We want to be the preferred chemical company to enable our customers’ green transformation. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 108,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises, as core businesses, the segments Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, and Nutrition & Care; our standalone businesses are bundled in the segments Surface Technologies and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of around €60 billion in 2025. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. Further information at www.basf.com.