(openPR) - LANXESS products solve water challenges

Singapore, 20 March 2009 – Specialty chemicals company LANXESS in Asia Pacific expresses its support for World Water Day, observed every year on 22 March 22, a day that the United Nations first established in 1992. In many regions of the Earth, water is very scarce indeed. A total of less than one percent of the world’s water is suitable for human consumption.

Removing toxic trace contaminants--especially arsenic—is becoming increasingly important in the preparation of drinking water. Health studies show that long-term consumption of contaminated drinking water containing even the smallest amounts of arsenic can increase the risk of cancer or skin changes. Therefore in accordance with recommendations from the World Health Organization, many countries have set the maximum permissible threshold for arsenic drinking water at 10 parts per billion. This specification has created an urgent need for action by many water suppliers around the world.

LANXESS’s Ion Exchange Resins business unit has developed Lewatit® F036 to safely remove this toxic metalloid from drinking water. Other mineral substances, in some cases valuable, remain in the drinking water even after treatment. Although Lewatit® F036 was developed primarily for the removal of arsenic, it can also be used to remove other trace contaminants.

To complement this product, LANXESS’s Inorganic Pigments Business Unit has extended its product range with a granular iron oxide called Bayoxide® E33, which absorbs arsenic quickly and selectively.

Water treatment with Lewatit® also plays an important role in private households. For example, ion exchange resins are used in many conventional household water filters. They are also found in almost every dishwasher, where it softens the water to prevent buildup of limescale on glasses and tableware. During water treatment, ion exchangers also perform the useful task of removing unwanted substances that affect the taste and smell of the water.

LANXESS is a leading specialty chemicals company with sales of EUR 6.58 billion in 2008 and currently around 14,800 employees in 21 countries. The company is represented at 44 production sites worldwide. The core business of LANXESS is the development, manu¬facturing and marketing of plastics, rubber, intermediates and specialty chemicals. More information at www.lanxessgoesasia.com.


Maggie Tan
Corporate Communications
LANXESS Pte Ltd
9 Benoi Sector, Singapore 629844
Tel       (65) 6725 5888
Direct   (65) 6725 5821
Fax      (65) 6264 5329
Email   maggie.tan@lanxess.com
Web: www.lanxess.com/ , www.lanxessgoesasia.com/