Albemarle Corporation has snapped up the catalyst business Akzo Nobel as part of its efforts to broaden the firm's specialty chemicals and service offerings.

The deal makes Albemarle one of the world's largest producers of hydro processing catalysts (HPC) and fluidized catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts, which are used in the petroleum refining industry.  Albemarle is acquiring production sites for HPC and FCC catalysts in Amsterdam and Pasadena, Texas. Additionally, Albemarle is acquiring 50 percent ownership of non-consolidated joint ventures in Brazil (FCC SA), Japan (Nippon Ketjen) and France (Eurecat,

Ray Hurley, vice president of the catalysts department, said that the firm was looking forward to capitalising on the expanding clean fuels catalyst market and ensuring it maintained a leading presence in the sector.