Albemarle’s Innovative AlkyClean(TM) Technology Receives Prestigious ‘Affordable Green Chemistry’ Award From American Chemical Society

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -

- Sustainable, Value-added Technology Significantly Improves Safety of Refinery Processes and Hazards Associated with the Transportation and Handling of Liquid Acids

Albemarle Corporation, (NYSE: ALB) www.albemarle.com, a global leader in developing innovative specialty chemicals, catalysts and sustainable clean energy solutions, along with its consortium partners Lummus Technology and Neste Oil, will receive the esteemed 2010 Award for Affordable Green Chemistry from the American Chemical Society, (”ACS”) for AlkyClean(TM), a cutting edge solid acid alkylation technology invented and commercialized by the three companies. The award will be presented at the 239th ACS National Meeting in March 2010.

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The AlkyClean solid acid alkylation process can significantly improve the safety of existing refinery processes and reduce potential hazards associated with transportation and handling of liquid acids used to produce alkylate, the high-octane blending component that is used to improve the antiknock value of fuels. Relying on patented technology combined with Albemarle’s long-lasting and durable AlkyStar(TM) catalyst, the AlkyClean process provides refiners with a competitive, cleaner and inherently safer alkylation technology. No acid-soluble oils or spent acids are produced, and there is no need for product post-treatment of any kind to remove traces of acid. Besides these environmental advantages, the AlkyClean process has proven to be robust, requiring minimal maintenance.

“Refining companies have traditionally had two options for acid catalysts when it comes to alkylation, sulfuric acid or hydrofluoric acid. Both are liquids and neither one is ideal from a handling perspective,” said John Kasbaum, division vice president of Albemarle’s Fluid Catalytic Cracking group. “The AlkyClean process gives them an attractive, commercially viable option that reduces risk and improves operational economics.”

“We believe AlkyClean is the leading solid acid alkylation technology in the world and we are honored to receive this recognition from ACS,” Kasbaum concluded.

About Lummus Technology

Lummus Technology, a CB&I Company, is a leading player in licensing proprietary technologies to the oil and gas, petroleum refining and petrochemical process industries. Lummus Technology is part of CB&I (www.cbi.com), a leader in designing, engineering and constructing some of the world’s largest energy infrastructure projects, providing a full spectrum of EPC solutions and proven process technologies. CB&I employs about 17,000 people.

About Neste Oil Corporation

Neste Oil Corporation is a refining and marketing company concentrating on low-emission, high-quality traffic fuels. The company is the world’s leading supplier of renewable diesel. Neste Oil’s refineries are located in Porvoo and Naantali and have a combined crude oil refining capacity of approx. 260,000 barrels a day. The company had net sales of EUR 15 billion in 2008 and employs around 5,300 people. Neste Oil’s share is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki. Neste Oil has been selected into the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and awarded ‘Best in Class’ recognition for its social accountability by Storebrand. The company is also featured in the Ethibel Pioneer Investment Register and included in Innovest’s Global 100 list of the world’s most sustainable corporations. Further information: www.nesteoil.com.

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

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