Evonik expands sodium methylate facility in Mobile, Ala. to boost supplies for biodiesel industry

In Alabama, Evonik Corporation will undertake a significant capacity expansion of its sodium methylate facility located in Mobile, Ala. Upon completion, the Mobile plant will be capable of producing up to 90,000 metric tons per year.

The decision to expand capacity follows Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recent announcement of renewable volume obligations (RVO) for 2020, which help set compliance for refiners with the Renewable Fuels Standard. Since sodium methylate is the catalyst of choice for large-scale biodiesel production in the U.S., these new EPA figures play an important role in gauging future demand for sodium methylate.