Chemical Profile: Glacial acrylic acid

18 December 2006 00:00  [Source: ICB]

Uses

Glacial acrylic acid (glacial AA) can be polymerised or modified to complex molecular arrangements. Cross-linked polymers are used in nappies (44.8%), adult incontinence (5.2%), feminine hygiene (2.2%), and in horticulture, landscaping, soil conditioning, cables, drilling fluids and transportation (2.3%).

Homo-, co- and ter-polymers are used in detergents (8.2%), specialty esters (8%), coatings (7.7%), water treatment (4%), clay, calcium carbonate and titanium dioxide (6%), and adhesives (3.2%).

Minor uses are in waste treatment (1.2%), zinc diacrylate (1.1%), and in petroleum, printing/dyeing, pulp/paper, textiles, mining, pharmaceuticals, construction, polish and rubber products.

Supply/demand

Global capacity stood at just under 3.9m tonnes/year in 2005, with 1.5m tonnes/year in the US, 1.16m tonnes/year in western Europe, 625,800 tonnes/year in Japan and 517, 400 tonnes/year in Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan).

The US is the largest consumer of glacial AA at about 1.35m tonnes/year, followed by western Europe at 1.1m tonnes/year, Asia-Pacific at 493,460 tonnes/year and Japan at 554,240 tonnes/year. Latin America and eastern Europe buy 42,390 tonnes/year and 32,930 tonnes/year, respectively. Global demand in 2005 was 3.65m tonnes/year.

Pricing

Price depends on colour and purity. Most common glacial AA has an American Public Health Association colour index of less than 10, maximum dimer content of 500ppm and

purity of 99.6%. European prices in the fourth quarter were €1.05-1.20/kg. Contract prices in November for the US and Asia-Pacific were $1.45-1.67/kg and $1.40-1.60/kg, respectively.

Technology

AA is made from propylene in two steps via acrolein in gas-phase oxidation. Glacial grade is produced by second distillation or crystallisation. There are different catalysts, conditions and systems, with variation in yield and quality. Nippon Shokubai's new plant in Himeji, Japan, uses one reactor packed with two layers of catalyst, lowering investment. BASF's plant in China uses fractional condensation and recycling of crystalline residues, improving overall yield.

Health and safety

Glacial AA is a corrosive, colourless liquid with a sharp, acrid odour, and is completely soluble in water. The liquid and vapour can seriously damage tissues.

Outlook

Global demand will grow by 5%/year to 2010. Regionally, it will rise by 11%/year in Asia-Pacific 5%/year in Africa, Asia/Middle East, Australia/New Zealand, eastern Europe, Canada and Latin America 4.5%/year in western Europe 4%/year in the US and 2%/year in Mexico and Japan. The biggest growth is in China at 20%/year in nappies.

New plants have started up in China this year for Formosa Plastics (28,000 tonnes/year) and Shenyang Chemical Industrial (30,000 tonnes/year). By the end of 2006, Nippon Shokubai will debottleneck in Indonesia to 28,600 tonnes/year and add 100,000 tonnes/year in Himeji, Japan. PetroChina Lanzhou will start a 35,000 tonnes/year unit in 2007.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Global Glacial acrylic acid CAPACITY (2005) '000 tonnes/year

Company	Location	Capacity
American Acryl*	Bayport, Texas, US	87
Arkema	Carling, France	107
BASF	Antwerp, Belgium	80
	Freeport, Texas, US	168
BASF-Petronas	Kuantan, Malaysia	24
BASF-Sinopec	Nanjing, China	33
Beijing Eastern-Rohm and Haas	Beijing, China	27
CNPC (Jilin)	Jilin, China	12
Dow Chemical	Clear Lake, Texas, US	165
	Leuna, Germany	80
Formosa Plastics	Linyuan, Taiwan	35
Idemitsu Petrochemical	Nagoya, Japan	15
JSC DOS (Akrilat)	Dzerzhinsk, Russia	26
Lucky	Naju, South Korea	27
Mitsubishi Chemical	Yokkaichi, Japan	40
Mitsubishi-Sasol	Sasolburg, South Africa	10
Nippon Shokubai	Niihama, Japan	45
	Himeji, Japan	172
	Cilegon, Indonesia	22
Resolution Specialty Materials	Sokolov, Czech Republic	16
Rohm and Haas	Deer Park, Texas, US	265
Shanghai Gao-Qiao Petrochemical	Shanghai, China	10
Singapore Acrylic Ester**	Pulau Sakra, Singapore	45
StoHaas***	Marl, Germany	100
Toagosei	Tsurusaki, Japan	12
* Nippon Shokubai/Arkema jv ** Nippon Shokubai/Toagosei jv *** Rohm and Haas/Degussa jv SOURCE: TRANTECH

 

For the latest chemical news, data and analysis that directly impacts your business sign up for a free trial to ICIS news - the breaking online news service for the global chemical industry.

Get the facts and analysis behind the headlines from our market leading weekly magazine: sign up to a free trial to ICIS Chemical Business.

Printer Friendly