This part of the company adds value to streams from Basic Chemicals or refinery operations by upgrading them to make intermediate products for use in customers' processes and applications.

The roots of our Intermediates business stretch to the company's earliest days, since isopropyl alcohol, introduced in 1920, was our first commercial chemical product. Today we're organized into three broad sections — oxo, fluids and synthetics.

Oxo and Fluid

Oxo alcohols are key products that go into the manufacture of our Jayflex plasticizers, which are ultimately sold to the flexible vinyl plastic market. Oxo alcohols are also used in other applications like surfactants, adhesives, lubricants and additives.

We sell both hydrocarbon and oxygenated fluids for a wide variety of applications, including coatings, inks, adhesives, process fluids and agricultural chemicals. The hydrocarbon fluids line comprises aliphatic, naphthenic and aromatic fluids with a diverse range of performance characteristics. The oxygenated fluids include methyl ethyl ketone, isopropyl alcohol and other specialized products.

In today's world of complex regulations, we offer our oxo and fluids customers much more than product knowledge. Our people are experts in technical matters concerning the safe use of our products in their intended applications, as well as in toxicology, multinational marketing, environmental regulatory requirements and product safety and health issues. They work with government bodies around the world to ensure that our products and those of our customers meet regulatory requirements.