Albemarle's New Ketjenfine(R) 868 Nickel-Molybdenum Catalyst Enhances Hydrocracking Performance

Albemarle's New Ketjenfine(R) 868 Nickel-Molybdenum Catalyst Enhances
Hydrocracking Performance
Cost-effective catalyst improves hydroprocessing output and profitability

BATON ROUGE, La., Oct. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Albemarle Corporation,
(NYSE: ALB), a leading global supplier of innovative petroleum refining
catalysts and additives, introduces another new product, Ketjenfine® 868,
designed to significantly improve the performance of vacuum gas oil ("VGO")
hydrocracking pretreatment performance. Also known as "KF 868," the new
product is built on Albemarle's patented STARS(TM) technology and offers
best-in-class hydroprocessing activity for VGO units where both high aromatics
saturation and hydrodenitrogenation activity are required.

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More specifically, KF 868 is designed to improve VGO hydrocracking operation
by:

-- Optimizing catalyst cycle length;
-- Increasing throughput;
-- Applying more selective hydrocracking catalysts, and;

-- Enabling refiners to process cheaper, lower-quality feedstocks without
additional capital expenditure.

KF 868 is the latest in a long line of groundbreaking catalysts from
Albemarle, a longstanding leader in hydroprocessing catalyst product
performance, technical innovation, product quality and technical service.
This new product provides step-out performance and represents the high-end
solution for hydrocracking pretreatment units, thus becoming a major asset for
the Hydroprocessing Alliance between Albemarle and Honeywell's UOP.

"Albemarle is setting new benchmarks with KF 868 as the premium
nickel-molybdenum catalyst for VGO hydrocracking pre-treat refining," said
Scott Martin, division vice president of Albemarle's hydroprocessing catalysts
(HPC) business. "We believe this powerful product heralds a new generation of
hydroprocessing catalysts that offer exciting new technological and economic
advantages to address the complex challenges currently facing the refinery
world."

"With the roll out of yet another major breakthrough technology on the heels
of our very successful Ketjenfine 770 product, our HPC team continues to drive
innovation and deliver performance and value to the world's refineries," said
John Nicols, vice president of Albemarle's catalyst group. "Albemarle is
poised to launch additional new hydroprocessing products soon, as we continue
to build a portfolio which is second to none in the market."

The new KF 868 technology was developed by Albemarle and Nippon Ketjen and
will be available on a worldwide basis through Albemarle, Nippon Ketjen and
the UOP-Albemarle Hydroprocessing Alliance.

The Hydroprocessing Alliance is a unique collaboration of resources from
Albemarle and UOP to deliver the most comprehensive portfolio of processes,
catalysts, equipment and services available. The Alliance offers tailored
hydroprocessing solutions that optimize unit performance and improve yields in
refineries worldwide.

About Albemarle Corporation
Albemarle Corporation, headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is a leading
global developer, manufacturer and marketer of highly engineered specialty
chemicals for consumer electronics; petroleum and petrochemical processing;
transportation and industrial products; pharmaceuticals; agricultural
products; and construction and packaging materials. The Company operates in
three business segments -- Polymer Solutions, Catalysts and Fine Chemicals --
and serves customers in approximately 100 countries. Learn more about
Albemarle at: www.albemarle.com.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995: Statements in this press release regarding Albemarle Corporation's
business which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that
involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and
uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained
in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K.

SOURCE Albemarle Corporation

Stephanie Dixon, Media, +1-225-388-7904, or Stephanie_Dixon@albemarle.com,
Sandra Rodriguez, Investor Relations, +1-225-388-7654, or
Sandra_Rodriguez@albemarle.com, both of Albemarle Corporation