Acetonitrile headaches to ease
13 Nov 2009
INEOS has claimed a technology breakthrough that, it says, will significantly improve the global security of supply for acetonitrile.
Acetonitrile is a key solvent used in the production of pharmaceuticals such as insulin and antibiotics. Its use in liquid chromatography for chemical analysis and research is important in checking the component parts of foods or pharmaceuticals, to test their safety or efficacy.
Given the complexity of producing acetonitrile directly, it is mainly obtained as a co-product from the acrylonitrile process. Acrylonitrile is extensively used in plastics for the manufacture of cars, appliances and electronic goods. A slump in demand in these markets last year dramatically reduced production of acrylonitrile, which in turn led directly to a shortage of acetonitrile worldwide.
INEOS is the world’s largest acrylonitrile supplier, producing around 40% of the global supply.
“INEOS Nitriles technology allows us far more flexibility to produce around 50% more acetonitrile during periods of weak acrylonitrile demand, without having to increase the production of acrylonitrile,” said Rob Nevin, CEO INEOS Nitriles. “The resulting flexibility means we can increase acetonitrile production as demand increases, removing any concerns that our customers may have about security of supply in the future.”
The new technology is now operational at INEOS Nitriles US plants in Lima, Ohio and Green Lake, Texas and, with the assistance of key acetonitrile partners, has now been installed on the Seal Sands facility in Teesside, UK.
