The largest use for acetic acid is the manufacture of vinyl acetate monomer (VAM), which accounts for one-third of acetic acid consumption.
A major use for VAM is in the production of emulsions as base resins for water-based paints, adhesives, paper coatings and textile finishes. Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymers are used as hot melt adhesives and coatings. These markets for VAM tend to be mature with growth around GDP levels.
However, a stronger growth area for VAM is ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) polymers which have excellent barrier properties allowing them to be used in flexible food packing films, plastic bottles and automobile gasoline tanks.
VAM is also the raw material for polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) which is used as a component of adhesives and paints. PVOH is also the raw material for polyvinyl butyral (PVB) resins which form the transparent adhesive film that bonds layers of safety glass together.
The fastest growing outlet for acetic acid is its second largest derivative, purified terephthalic acid (PTA). Demand for PTA is being driven by the boom in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle resins and polyester fibre. Globally, PTA’s share of acetic acid consumption is 20% but this figure is over 30% in Asia.
Acetate esters, which account for a total of 15% of acetic acid consumption and forecast to have modest growth, are used as solvents in a wide variety of paints, inks and other coatings as well as in many chemical processes.
Ethyl acetate is used as a solvent in oil-based lacquers and enamels including polyurethane finishes and in inks and adhesives. Butyl acetate has similar applications.
Isopropyl acetate is a fast-evaporating solvent with over three quarters used in gravure printing for plastic films such as bread wrap. The rest finds uses in coatings and adhesives.
Methyl acetate is used as a solvent in fast drying paints such as lacquers as well as waste film in the production of cellulosic adhesives. It is also used as a perfume solvent and a reaction solvent in dye manufacture.
Nearly 15% of acetic acid is consumed in acetic anhydride which is a mature product. It is used primarily to make cellulose acetate which goes into cigarette filters and textile applications. Acetic anhydride is a significant raw material for aspirin, acetaminophen and other pharmaceuticals. It is also used in plasticizers such as acetyl tributyl citrate and triacetin.
Long term global demand for acetic acid is forecast by consultants to grow at 3-4%/year. Growth is much higher in Asia, pulled by China where it is estimated to grow by up to 8%/year.
In the US domestic market, acetic acid demand is only expected to increase at 1%/year despite some growth in VAM and acetate esters derivatives. US producers have relied on the export market taking up to 30% of production. While exports were up by nearly 10% in 2008 at 817,000 tonnes compared to 745,000 tonnes in 2007, these figures hide the decline in exports at the end of 2008. In early 2009, exports were down by over 30% due to slumping economies in Latin America and Europe.
Asia, and in particular China, is experiencing the fastest growth. Much of this growth has been met by imports which could fall within the next few years as new capacity comes on-stream.
India is also seen as a country where there could be strong acetic acid demand growth in the future. Downstream polyester demand in India is relatively small due to a preference for natural fibres. However, this will change as polyester technology improves while constraints on land for growing cotton increase. VAM demand is also expected to grow strongly in India.
There is concern about new acetic acid capacity coming on-steam in the Middle East and China at a time of a global economic downturn. If plans proceed as schedule, new acetic acid capacity in China and Saudi Arabia will amount to 1.26m tonnes/year in 2009. However, demand in the acetic acid’s downstream sectors is expected to take some time to recover.
(Updated: April 2009. Sources: ICB Chemical Profile 27 April 2009)
Acetic acid
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Acetic acid
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Acetic acid technology is perhaps the most diverse of all major industrial organic chemicals. No other large volume chemical can claim the varied feedstocks and production approaches acetic acid can. However, methanol carbonylation has become the dominant acetic acid production technology, accounting for over 65% of global capacity.
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