Future-proof through innovation and sustainability: BASF relies on Raman sensors from Optoquant

5-HT talks with Dr. Ralf Böhling, Leiter Process Screening/Kinetics Lab at BASF, Dr. Frank Braun und Dr. Andreas Hien, both managing directors at Optoquant GmbH, Dr. Sebastian Schwolow, Development Engineer at Optoquant GmbH, as well as Dr. Frank Funke, former managing director at 5-HT Chemistry & Health, who has initiated the collaboration.

Introduction: When networks make innovation possible

Large companies such as BASF SE and young, agile start-ups such as Optoquant GmbH share a common goal: to drive innovation, increase efficiency, reduce costs, and enable sustainable production processes. But how do such partners find each other?

In the case of BASF and Optoquant, it was the ecosystem of 5-HT Chemistry & Health that set the course. “I see my job as bringing promising solutions to the right places in our partner companies. When I saw Optoquant's technology, I knew immediately that it could be of interest to Ralf Böhling, head of the kinetics laboratory at BASF, and that he was the right person to test it,” recalls Dr. Frank Funke, managing director of 5-HT.

This impulse was the starting point for a success story that shows how powerful collaborations between corporations, startups, and innovation networks can be.

from left to right: Dr. Ralf Böhling (BASF), Dr. Sebastian Schwolow, Dr. Frank Braun, Dr. Andreas Hien (all Optoquant), Dr. Frank Funke (5-HT Chemistry & Health)

The startup Optoquant: Precision for a healthy world tomorrow

Optoquant GmbH specializes in optical sensors for laboratory and process environments. Its Raman spectrometers provide important real-time information about chemical processes - without sampling, without delay, and without additional personnel costs.

"Our goal is to make processes simpler, more efficient, and safer. With our sensors, substance concentrations can be measured directly in the plant – in solids, liquids, or gases. This saves time, costs, and resources," explains Dr. Frank Braun, Managing Director of Optoquant.

The ease of integration is particularly attractive for industry: the devices are compact, can be installed without costly modifications, and, if desired, have all the necessary certifications for explosion-proof areas.

The business model is clearly focused on sustainability and innovation. “Our guiding principle is a healthy world for tomorrow. For us, this includes the responsible use of resources as well as the constant search for solutions that offer our customers real added value,” says Braun.

BASF: In search of smart process analytics

At BASF in Ludwigshafen, the Process Screening and Kinetics team tests new catalysts, examines reactions, and optimizes processes on a daily basis. Time plays a crucial role in this process.

“We have a very high throughput in our laboratory. Until now, many analyses have been carried out using gas chromatography – which is reliable, but also time-consuming. Results are available after half an hour at the earliest, sometimes only after several days. This is not ideal for fast process control,” explains Dr. Ralf Böhling, Head of Process Screening/Kinetics Lab at BASF.

There is also an occupational safety aspect: sampling potentially hazardous substances is not only slow, but also risky. An analysis system that works directly in the process could solve several problems at once.

The first test run: a false start as an opportunity

When BASF and Optoquant began their collaboration, the first test did not go as hoped. “We failed spectacularly,” Böhling admits openly. Problems with the compressed air supply made normal operation impossible.

But this is precisely where the strength of agile startups comes into play: Instead of writing off the attempt as a failure, Optoquant used BASF's feedback to improve the device.

“The Optoquant team took BASF's laboratory requirements seriously and adapted its devices to customer needs so that they could be used without additional infrastructure. That was an important step in our product development,” reports Braun.

The second attempt went smoothly – the Raman spectrometer was successfully deployed to its full potential.

Today: In use around the clock

The Optoquant device is now in use in the BASF laboratory 24/7. It delivers measurements every minute, enabling direct evaluation of catalyst performance.

“The biggest advantage is the time savings. We can see immediately how a catalyst is performing and no longer have to wait for delayed laboratory analyses. This significantly improves the quality of our testing,” says Böhling.

Safety also benefits: concentrations of critical substances can be monitored immediately, deviations are detected immediately, and necessary interventions can be made without delay.

Funke adds: “This not only means greater efficiency, but also greater safety for employees – an aspect that is particularly relevant in the chemical industry.”

From the laboratory to production: a long road ahead

Although the technology is already being used successfully in BASF's laboratories, the road to production facilities is a complex one. “In the process industry, safety and reliability are top priorities. New equipment must first prove itself in the laboratory over a long period of time before it can be introduced into production facilities,” explains Böhling.

Such test phases can take one to two years - not least because plant conversions are only possible during rare maintenance windows.

Nevertheless, the path forward is clear: if the technology proves itself, it offers enormous potential for continuous production.

“With online analytics such as those offered by Optoquant, production plants can be controlled much more effectively. Intervention times are reduced, product quality increases, and the reliability of the plants also improves,” emphasizes Böhling.

Braun adds: “The knowledge gained in the laboratory during the training of our sensors can later be transferred directly to production. This saves time and facilitates scaling.” “This is possible because we offer an all-in-one solution. This means that all the software and hardware has been brought together in a small, handy format and comes from a single source,” says Dr. Sebastian Schwolow, development engineer at Optoquant GmbH.

Advantages at a glance

Optoquant's Raman sensors offer BASF several tangible advantages:

• Time savings: Real-time data instead of hours or days of analysis

• Cost reduction: Less personnel, fewer samples, lower operating costs

• Safety: Direct access to critical process information without dangerous sampling

• Compactness: Can also be installed in limited laboratory environments

• Flexibility: Self-sufficient devices that can be easily integrated into existing systems

• Sustainability: Resource-saving technology without unnecessary additional costs

An example of successful collaboration

The cooperation shows how successful collaboration between a start-up, a corporation, and an innovation platform can be.

“Without the final link, 5-HT, we would not have established this customer contact. The network opened the door to one of the world's largest chemical companies for us,” emphasizes Braun.

Funke sees this as a clear mission: “Our role is to bring the right partners together. BASF benefits from innovative technologies, startups like Optoquant gain valuable references - and in the end, there is added value for the entire industry.”

Böhling adds: “It is important for us to test new technologies at an early stage. Only then can we offer our business units solutions that really make a difference.”

Outlook: Where is the journey headed?

“Optoquant is currently expanding its sensors into other industries - from pharmaceuticals and medical technology to energy storage, mining, and biotechnology. The prospects are particularly exciting in the field of gas analysis, where Raman spectroscopy can offer a safe and fast alternative to established but costly methods,” says Dr. Andreas Hien, Managing Director of Optoquant.

For BASF, the exciting question now is when the technology will find its way into large-scale production. The conditions are in place, and as always in the chemical industry, safety and reliability are the focus as a strong basis for the next step.

Conclusion: Innovation requires partnerships

The success story of BASF and Optoquant impressively demonstrates how sustainable progress can be achieved by combining start-up innovations, industrial practice, and network expertise.

• Optoquant has tailored its product to customer needs based on feedback from BASF.

• BASF is already benefiting from faster and more reliable analyses.

• 5-HT built the crucial bridge that made this collaboration possible in the first place.

Or as Dr. Funke sums it up: “Our goal is to bring innovations into application - and that's exactly what we've achieved here.”

👉 What do you think: Could Raman technology make a difference in your industry too? We'll connect you with the right partners – get in touch!

Link: Optoquant - A new light on your process

Optoquant Raman Sensors

from left to right: Optoquant Team Dr. Andreas Hien, Dr. Sebastian Schwolow, Dr. Frank Braun