BASF Deploys Durasorb® LNG MAX Technology at Cheniere’s Corpus Christi LNG Facility to Support Higher Production and More Flexible Gas Pretreatment

With Durasorb ® LNG MAX, BASF enables simplified LNG pre-treatment and greater feed gas flexibility through a single-unit adsorption solution that removes trace heavy hydrocarbons, BTEX compounds, and water to cryogenic specifications.
Photo: BASF

(IN BRIEF) BASF has announced the commissioning of Durasorb® LNG MAX technology at Cheniere Energy’s Corpus Christi LNG facility in Texas, where the technology is now operating on multiple mid-scale and large-scale liquefaction trains. Installation began in 2025 and Cheniere plans to complete deployment and commissioning across the remaining trains by the end of 2027. Durasorb LNG MAX provides a single-unit adsorption solution that removes trace heavy hydrocarbons, BTEX compounds and water to cryogenic specifications, helping prevent freeze-out, reduce downtime and improve operational reliability and feed gas flexibility. The technology can be used in both retrofit and greenfield LNG projects, with BASF providing process modelling, adsorbent materials and ongoing technical support. Maas Hinz, Executive Vice President of Operations at Cheniere, said the technology has strengthened the company’s strategic debottlenecking programme and supported organic growth of its existing liquefaction platform. BASF said the Corpus Christi installation builds on earlier small-scale successes and demonstrates the technology’s value in large-scale commercial LNG operations.

(PRESS RELEASE) LUDWIGSHAFEN, 10-Sep-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — BASF has announced the commissioning of its Durasorb® LNG MAX technology at Cheniere Energy, Inc.’s Corpus Christi LNG facility in Texas, marking a major large-scale deployment of the adsorption technology across multiple liquefaction trains.

Installation of Durasorb at the Corpus Christi LNG facility began in 2025 and has now been completed on multiple mid-scale and large-scale liquefaction trains. Cheniere plans to extend installation and commissioning of the technology across the remaining liquefaction trains at the facility by the end of 2027.

BASF supported Cheniere throughout preparation, implementation and startup, supplying the Durasorb technology as well as specialized adsorbent materials and technical assistance.

Durasorb LNG MAX supports simpler LNG feed gas pretreatment

Durasorb LNG MAX is designed to simplify pretreatment of natural gas before liquefaction by combining several contaminant-removal functions within a single adsorption unit.

The technology removes trace heavy hydrocarbons, as well as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene, collectively known as BTEX, together with water, to levels suitable for cryogenic LNG processing.

Removing these components before liquefaction helps prevent freeze-out inside downstream equipment, which can otherwise lead to operational interruptions and unplanned downtime.

BASF said the technology can therefore improve both operational reliability and feed gas flexibility.

Technology suited to both retrofit and greenfield LNG projects

Durasorb LNG MAX can be applied to existing LNG facilities through retrofits of dehydration units as well as to newly developed greenfield projects.

Its single-unit adsorption approach is intended to reduce process complexity compared with conventional pretreatment configurations while supporting a broader range of feed gas compositions.

BASF also provides proprietary modelling capabilities to assist with system design and operating optimization, alongside ongoing technical support throughout implementation and operation.

Cheniere deploys Durasorb across multiple liquefaction trains

At the Corpus Christi facility, Cheniere has already commissioned the technology across multiple liquefaction trains spanning both mid-scale and large-scale configurations.

The company plans to continue the rollout until Durasorb is installed and commissioned across the remaining trains by the end of 2027.

The deployment represents an expansion from earlier smaller-scale applications and provides BASF with a large-scale commercial demonstration of the technology’s operating performance.

Technology contributes to Cheniere debottlenecking programme

Maas Hinz, Executive Vice President of Operations at Cheniere, said BASF’s Durasorb technology has enhanced Cheniere’s strategic debottlenecking programme.

According to Hinz, the technology supports the organic growth of Cheniere’s existing liquefaction platform by improving the efficiency and flexibility of feed gas pretreatment.

The deployment is therefore positioned as part of Cheniere’s wider effort to increase output from its existing LNG infrastructure.

BASF highlights first large-scale market deployment

Yaqian Liu, Senior Vice President, Chemical Catalysts and Adsorbents at BASF, said the company is proud to have brought the technology to market and to be working with Cheniere on a large-scale implementation.

She said BASF is focused on creating value for customers through technologies that address operational and process challenges within the energy sector.

Liu added that BASF is pleased to support Cheniere as the company continues supplying LNG to international markets.

Specialty adsorbents support operational reliability

A key component of the Durasorb LNG MAX system is BASF’s range of specialty adsorbent materials.

These materials are designed to selectively remove contaminants that could otherwise freeze during LNG liquefaction and interfere with cryogenic operations.

By integrating contaminant removal into a single adsorption step, the system is intended to reduce operational complexity while helping operators maintain consistent performance across changing feed gas conditions.

Large-scale implementation demonstrates technology maturity

BASF said that, following earlier successes at smaller scale, deployment at the Corpus Christi LNG facility demonstrates Durasorb LNG MAX performance under larger commercial operating conditions.

The installation across multiple liquefaction trains also provides a broader reference for future projects considering the technology for retrofits, capacity expansions or new LNG developments.

As Cheniere continues installation across the remaining trains through 2027, the programme will further expand the operational footprint of the technology within one of the company’s major liquefaction facilities.

About BASF’s chemical catalysts and adsorbents

BASF is a leading global manufacturer of catalysts for the chemical industry, with solutions across the chemical value chain. The business comprises chemical catalysts, adsorbents and custom catalysts. Priority is given to developing new and improved products that enable the chemical industry transformation to net-zero emissions. To learn more, visit www.chemical-catalysts-and-adsorbents.basf.com.

About BASF

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. Our ambition: We want to be the preferred chemical company to enable our customers’ green transformation. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 95,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises, as core businesses, the segments Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, and Nutrition & Care; our standalone businesses are bundled in the segments Surface Technologies and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of around €60 billion in 2025. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. Further information at www.basf.com.

Media Contacts:

Annette Engeroff
Communications Performance Chemicals
+49 174 3198166 
annette.engeroff@basf.com

Tobias Berg
Global Communication Manager Chemical Catalysts and Adsorbents
+49 1520 8902950
tobias.berg@basf.com

SOURCE: BASF