Albemarle Introduces Higher Purity Decabromodiphenyl Ether Flame Retardant, SAYTEX(R) 102HP

Albemarle Introduces Higher Purity Decabromodiphenyl Ether Flame Retardant, SAYTEX(R) 102HP

January 23, 2007

    BATON ROUGE, La., Jan. 23 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
Albemarle Corporation (NYSE: ALB), the world leader in
flame retardant solutions for polymers, has developed and
is commercializing SAYTEX 102HP flame retardant, a new,
high-assay form of decabromodiphenyl ether, or DecaBDE. 
Patent applications covering both the high-assay product
and the processes for its manufacture are currently
pending.

    (Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050801/ALBEMARLELOGO
)

    This new product is designed to help Albemarle
customers and their downstream users meet the strictest
interpretation of the European Union (EU) Restriction on
the Use of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive and
related EU Commission Decisions regarding the use of
polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs.

    As part of its continued commitment to support the
sustainable use of its products, Albemarle will work with
its customers to maximize the efficient use of SAYTEX 102HP
flame retardant while minimizing overall emissions to the
environment.

    Albemarle flame retardants help improve the fire safety
of polymeric materials found in enclosures, circuit boards
and connectors for electronic and electrical devices;
comfort foam in furniture and automobiles; wire &
cable; and roofing, rigid insulation foam, adhesives,
coatings and other construction materials.  

    Albemarle Corporation, headquartered in Richmond,
Virginia, 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 Additives, Catalysts and Fine
Chemicals, and serves customers in approximately 100
countries.  Learn more about Albemarle's flame retardants
at http://www.saytex.com and http://www.albemarle.com .

    SAYTEX is a registered trademark of Albemarle
Corporation. 
 
    "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.


    For more information, please contact:

    Media: 

     Rene Milligan
     Albemarle Corporation
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]

    Investor Relations: 

     Nicole Daniel
     Albemarle Corporation 
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail] 


SOURCE  Albemarle Corporation