Koch-Glitsch Licenses Liquid-Liquid Extraction Business to Koch Modular Process Systems; Chemical Technology Firm Now Offers Customers Superior Process Design, Equipment Package.

Business Editors

PARAMUS, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 13, 2001

Koch-Glitsch, Inc. announced today that it has licensed its liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) business to Koch Modular Process Systems LLC (KMPS), a New Jersey-based chemical separations technology company.

"Koch-Glitsch's industry-leading LLE business incorporates 40-plus years of extraction technology that had been supplied by Glitsch, Otto H. York Company, and the Chem Pro Corp.," said Robert DiFulgentiz, president of Koch-Glitsch. "It includes a broad range of extraction column designs, such as the well-known Karr(TM), Scheibel(TM), and RDC Columns. We're confident that the combination of this technology and the vast process knowledge of KMPS will provide a much higher value-added solution to our customers."

"The goal of this licensing agreement is to give us a broader selection of options when it comes to solving mass transfer problems for our customers," said Thomas Schafer, vice president of KMPS. "Process design expertise, KMPS' greatest area of strength, is essential to the success of the LLE business because it's fundamental in conceptualizing the extraction process. This includes selection of optimum solvents, development of liquid-liquid equilibrium data, computer modeling of extractors and accompanying distillation columns, and pilot testing of equipment."

"Customers will benefit from the combined resources that now include basic process design and data development, pilot testing of actual customer streams, and design and supply of complete modular systems which incorporate the distillation and extraction equipment," said George Schlowsky, KMPS' president.

LLE is a separation technique used primarily when distillation alone isn't feasible. For instance, LLE is used where the energy requirements of distillation are prohibitive, products being separated are heat sensitive, materials being recovered are non-volatile, or a complex distillation sequence is required. Processes employing LLE usually contain several downstream distillation steps for solvent and starting-material recovery. This technology will be integrated into KMPS' existing mass transfer systems business.

Koch Modular Process Systems LLC was formed in 1998 combining Koch-Glitsch's and Modular Process Systems' modular mass transfer businesses along with Schlowsky Engineers' process engineering design business. Modular Process Systems and Koch-Glitsch are shareholders in KMPS, which has offices in Paramus, N.J., and operates a pilot plant in Houston, Texas. KMPS' extraction business manager, Don Glatz, has 15 years experience in the design, construction and operation of extraction equipment and can provide customers with more information about LLE. More information about KMPS is available at www.modular-process.com.

Koch-Glitsch, Inc., a subsidiary of Koch Industries, Inc., is part of Koch's Chemical Technology Group, which for more than 50 years has specialized in designing, manufacturing, and marketing equipment and services for processing industries worldwide. These companies' products include mass transfer, mist elimination and static mixing equipment, among others, and its companies offer technical and field services to businesses like refineries and chemical plants around the globe. Koch Industries and its subsidiaries employ 11,000 people worldwide and are involved in virtually all phases of the oil and gas industry, as well as in chemicals, plastics, energy services, chemical and environmental technology products, asphalt products, metals and mineral services, ranching, financial services, and ventures. More information is available at www.koch-glitsch.com or www.kochind.com.