FMC: Expanding its chemical universe
With a portfolio ranging from defense systems to gold to food machinery - the source of its name - FMC Corp. (Chicago) ranks as a diversified conglomerate. The company's industrial chemicals operation consists of alkali chemicals, chiefly soda ash and derivatives: peroxygen chemicals, made up of hydrogen peroxide and other peroxygens; and phosphorus chemicals. FMC has about a 30% market share in each of these three. It also includes the Foret (Barcelona) division, part of FMC Europe. Moving lithium into FMC's specialties group reflects the R D-intensive nature of many lithium compounds, explains F. Wyman Morgan, director/group technology for the chemical product and specialty chemicals groups. FMC is also involved in collaborative research programs to develop lithium-based batteries and fuel cells. We have a decentralized business-oriented R D focus, Morgan says. The main thrusts in lithium are in developing organolithiums for drug synthesis. FMC also has a major industrial lithium business; it recently added a new butyl lithium unit in Texas and is looking to expand production through the development of lithium deposits in Latin America. But lithium is growing fastest in the downstream areas, says W. Reginald Hall, v.p. and group manager/specialty chemicals group. It has an unbelievable range of uses, he says, including catalytic applications in the pharmaceuticals industry. We are working on lithium compounds that allow you to drop a functional organic group into a molecule in a reliable way.
- OSTI ID:
- 6930129
- Journal Information:
- Chemical Week; (United States), Vol. 151:25; ISSN 0009-272X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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