As a producer of oxygen (O2), nitrogen (N2), hydrogen (H2) and carbon monoxide (CO), to name just a few common products, Air Liquide supplies chemical manufacturers with these gases which often constitute one of their key raw materials.

Air Liquide And the Chemicals Industry

The petrochemicals industry and manufacturers of "building block chemicals", such as ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, vinyl chloride, caprolactame and aniline, are the largest consumers of process gases (i.e. oxygen, hydrogen and carbon monoxide). The basic chemicals industry, which produces such products as chlorine, sodium hydroxide, ethylene and inorganic acids, uses little process gas, whereas some nitrogen and hydrogen are used to produce polymer chemicals, such as polyolefins and polystyrenes.

All of these sectors of the chemicals industry use nitrogen for a wide variety of applications, such as inerting (for safety), mixing, drying, temperature control, catalysts preparation or product transport.

Uniform Products and Services Across the World

The chemicals market is a global market, and the leading players are all multinational industrial groups with operations all over the world.

Air Liquide's local and global organization can provide them with an overall solution backed up by the Group's combined expertise, and guarantees the same quality of service all over the world. For example, Air Liquide guarantees, from the USA to Japan, the same level of service regardless of where the customer is based. Air Liquide also:

• Gives chemical companies access to our global R&D; network,
• Supports them with its local organization,
• Optimizes their investment,
• Allows them to concentrate on their core business.

The Added Value Provided By Air Liquide

In addition to its local and global presence, Air Liquide provides high added value:

• With a comprehensive offer of services and products: Air Liquide can supply electrical power, steam (via cogeneration), demineralized water, instrument air, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen and carbon monoxide simultaneously. Combining the production and supply of these products reduces their individual costs significantly.
• By providing new processes using industrial gases, or optimizing existing processes, such as boosting air oxidation processes with oxygen. To optimize these new processes, Air Liquide mobilizes the forces of its European, North American and Japanese research centers to serve the customer. The results achieved include substantial cost reductions for the customer, increased capacity and lower pollutant gas emissions.

Air Liquide has also concluded technological agreements with leading world specialists to provide its customers with cutting-edge processes ensuring perfect quality at the lowest possible cost. Some examples include agreements signed with Haldor Topsoe to use exclusive hydrogen and synthesis gas production technology, and with Howe Baker for the construction of the corresponding hydrogen production units.