CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio—Emerald Kalama Chemical B.V. has completed its latest expansion in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

The 20-kilo ton capacity expansion includes a new flaker production unit for its Purox B pure grade benzoic acid. The unit will help the company meet increased demand for the product in the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, coatings and other industrial markets, according to the company.

Emerald Kalama Chemical is a business group of Emerald Performance Materials L.L.C., which produces specialty chemicals for a broad range of food and industrial applications, headquartered in Cuyahoga Falls. The company also has a facility in Kalama, Wash.

Purox B is available in several grades. The high-purity grades meet the Ph.Eur, USP/NF, FCC and JP requirements and are GRAS classified. Increased flake capacity won't affect the availability of liquid benzoic acid (molten).

Benzoic acid is used as a preservative and as an additive to thermoplastic elastomers, synthetic polyester fibers and HDPE filaments. It also is used to inhibit corrosion in automotive cooling liquids and as an additive in down-hole mud drilling.