Page 152 - CW E-Magazine (6-2-2024)

News from Abroad

RESEARCH COOPERATION
Lanxess and IBU-tec to develop iron oxides for LFP

battery material

German firms – speciality chemi- contribute to the establishment of an
cals company, Lanxess, and battery independent, robust value chain in the
materials manufacturer, IBU-tec – have European LFP battery market, while
entered into a research cooperation in at the same time reducing the carbon
the battery sector. The goal of the two footprint of batteries.
companies is to develop innovative
iron oxides for the production of cath- IBU-tec is currently the only
ode material for LFP batteries and thus European manufacturer of LFP cathode
increase the performance of this bat- material, while Lanxess operates the
tery type. The companies aim to opti- world’s largest plant for the key raw
mize the electrochemical properties of offers cost advantages of up to 50% and material, iron oxide, in Krefeld-Uerdingen
LFP batteries, such as energy density, promises safer use, as the system makes (Germany).
charging speed and number of charging the batteries virtually impossible to
cycles. ignite. Mr. Jörg Leinenbach, CEO of IBU-
tec, commented, “With the joint pro-
More and more car manufacturers European value chains duct development we will combine our
are increasingly relying on LFP (lithium/ The demand for LFP in Europe is expertise and together we will drive
iron/phosphate) batteries for their expected to grow by 20% per year the development of the European LFP
e-vehicles. Compared to NMC (nickel/ until 2030. So far, however, this demand battery market and establish an inde-
manganese/cobalt oxide) and NCA has been met almost exclusively by pendent value chain. We see this co-
(nickel/cobalt/aluminium oxide) cell non-European suppliers. With their operation as an important step towards
chemistry systems, LFP technology development, both companies aim to opening up the market.”

EU CHEMICAL REGULATION
ECHA adds five hazardous chemicals to

the ‘Candidate List’

The European Chemicals Agency Bumetrizole, and Oligomerisation and
(ECHA) has added five new chemicals alkylation reaction products of 2-phenyl-
to the ‘Candidate List’. propene and phenol. Among the
new additions, one is toxic for re-
The ‘Candidate List’ of substances production, three are very persistent
of very high concern now contains 240 and very bioaccumulative, and one is
entries for chemicals that can harm people toxic for reproduction and persistent,
or the environment. Companies are res- bioaccumulative and toxic. They are
ponsible for managing the risks of these found in products such as inks &
chemicals and giving customers and con- toners, adhesives & sealants and washing &
sumers information on their safe use. cleaning products.

The entries added to the list on January Update on dibutyl phthalate
23, 2024 are: 2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenol, The Agency has also updated the
2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4-(1,1,3,3- amino)-2-[(4-methylphenyl) methyl]-1-[4- existing ‘Candidate List’ entry for di-
tetramethylbutyl) phenol, 2-(dimethyl- (morpholin-4-yl) phenyl] butan-1-one, butyl phthalate to include its endocrine

152 Chemical Weekly February 6, 2024

Contents Index to Advertisers Index to Products Advertised