Pilot Chemical Co. said last week that it will significantly expand its capacity to produce anionic surfactants at its specialty chemical factory in Middletown, Ohio.
The project will double the site’s capacity to make alpha olefin sulfonates, according to a Jan. 23 news release. The company did not disclose specific volumes nor the cost of the project.
Mechanically, officials said the expansion will consist of debottlenecking activities that began this month and will be followed by installation of a sulfonation reactor train scheduled to go online in early 2027.
The output chemicals are sold into the lubricants industry, a spokesman said, and for household and personal care applications. Officials said demand for the chemicals is growing but did not elaborate about which sector is most responsible for the growth.
“This investment builds on Pilot’s strong leadership position in [alpha olefin sulfonate] and allows us to meet the growing requirements of our customers,” CEO Mike Clark said in the news release. “Our Middletown facility, which is our largest site, is well positioned to support this growth. The site is located near many of our household, Institutional & Industry and personal care customers and can produce a broad range of anionic surfactants.”