Industrial complex covers extensive range of products

Responsible for 21% of turnover of the chemical sector in the country, the fine chemical industrial complex covers an extensive variety of products, ranging from so-called synthesis intermediates, which constitute the link between basic chemistry and fine chemistry, even the intermediates for use or performance, which are the active ingredients and formulations, mixtures or compositions containing such products, called specialties, which include pharmaceuticals, drugs, vaccines, pesticides and animals, industrial catalysts, dyes and additives.
According to the Brazilian Association of the Industry of fine chemicals, biotechnology and their specialties (Abifina), chemical synthesis intermediates are manufactured by means of chemical synthesis, from raw materials of basic organic chemistry, petrochemical or source of biomass, and meet the technical specifications defined in international standards. Also use intermediaries follow international standards and have features of application very well defined, as in the case of raw material for the manufacture of medicines and food or industrial use. Already the specialities of fine chemicals are characterized by high technological content and intended for final market of products of high unit value. "Some companies consider fine chemicals exclusively active principles that use, which is a misconception," explains Nelson Brazil de Oliveira, Vice President of Abifina.As main productive chains of fine chemicals are of drugs and pharmaceutical products and the pesticide industry, which together represent 93% of the industrial complex. Both are regulated and controlled by the national agency of sanitary surveillance (Anvisa), which establishes strict production specifications, handling, packaging, transport, storage and marketing. The pesticides and their chemical intermediates are registered as medicinal products. As these, need to get detailed information about the assets used in its formulation and the respective manufacturers.
The active ingredients of pharmaceuticals segment are intended exclusively for intermediaries to medicines. Already in the food chain, according to Oliveira, the control is not as strict. No need to record the final product, but not the active ingredient. "When the lab makes the record of medicine, you have to say what is the active ingredient, who manufactures and where manufactures. In the area of food, it is the only product that will be marketed, "says Abifina Executive.
"The fine chemicals segment of farma is a highly regulated market, in which it is essential to comply with all local requirements," says Tatiana Kalman, Director of nutrition for Basf's health & Latin America. For that, she said, the company has a team of sales and marketing support formed by experienced professionals in technical areas, regulatory and supply chain. In addition to products of the pharmaceutical industry, the health and Nutrition Division of Basf develops, produces and markets a wide range of products for human and animal nutrition. Among the products of human nutrition are vitamins and carotenoids, plant sterols, emulsifiers and Omega-3 fatty acids. The company also produces aromatic ingredients such as citral, geraniol and L-menthol to the flavor and fragrance industry.
"To ensure the purity of the product, we have a strict control, ranging from production to final delivery to the customer," says Elaine Mandal, marketing manager for propylene glycol from Dow to Latin America. The product, a chemical intermediate, a solvent for many organic products insoluble in water, is used in two types of application: for manufacture of pharmaceutical products, foods, personal care products and fragrances, in a version with a high degree of purity, and for industrial use, in the manufacture of resins, plastics, paint industry and petroleum industry. A world leader in technology and product manufacturing, the Dow supplies to Latin America from its plant in Aratu (BA).
According to Elaine, in the case of the product for human use, the propylene glycol USP/EP, purity of 99.8% makes all the difference to ensure your sanity and safe application, i.e. without contamination. In the pharmaceutical industry, the product is used in syrups and vaccines. In the food industry, is used as a solvent and stabilizer in the formulations to cover ice cream, cakes, biscuits, as antidescongelante of frozen foods and as an inhibitor of proliferation of bacteria, among other applications.
In the cosmetic industry, it is used for the manufacture of shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, mouthwash, makeup remover, skin moisturizer, SOAP, deodorant and shaving cream.