BASF acquires Zodiac Enterprises LLC

Germany-based BASF, with U.S. headquarters in Iselin, New Jersey, has acquired Zodiac Enterprises LLC in Caldwell, Texas, which recycles precious metals from industrial scrap, primarily chemical catalysts. The purchase complements BASF’s existing precious metal recycling operations in Seneca, South Carolina, and expands its chemical catalyst recycling capacity and capability. The company says it will hire additional personnel to expand the site’s production capabilities.

“This investment allows us to meet the increased customer demand for recycling spent chemical and automotive catalysts,” Tim Ingle, vice president, BASF Precious Metals Refining, Chemicals & Battery Recycling, says. “We are proud to enable the circular economy since recycling metal emits as much as 90 percent less CO2 than refining primary metal from a mine.”

The additional smelting capacity at the Caldwell site will help use the refinery expansion in Seneca that the company announced this May. Recycled catalysts go through smelting and are then refined to produce the high purity precious metal needed to make fresh catalysts, the company says.