Global Information Source for Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Allied Industries
ADIPIC ACID.
Appearance
White crystalline solid, Free flowing, Pale yellow colour
Molecular formula
HOOC (CH2)4 COOH
Odour
Odourless
Application
- Key ingredient in the production of Nylon 6,6 polymers.
- Used in the manufacture of adipate plasticizers.
Major applications include the following
- Nylon 66 Polymers (Nylon 6,6 fibers and Nylon 66 engineering resins)
- Polyester Polyols
- Plasticizers
- Adiponitrile/HMDA
Other application sector
- Polyamide-epichlorohydrin resins
- Unsaturated polyester resins
- Synthetic lubricants
- Food additives
Process outline
Alternate process routes are given below :
- From cyclohexane via cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol (KA oil) by oxidation (the conventional process)
- From benzene via cyclohexanol by partial hydrogenation and hydration (Asahi Chemical process)
- From phenol
- From butadiene by carboalkoxylation (a process not yet commercialised)
Global scenario
Global capacity:
3.15 million metric tonnes per annum
Global demand:
2.9 million metric tonnes per annum
Global growth through 2014:
3% per annum
Major global producers
Major global producers include the following :
- Koch
- Solutia
- Inolex
- Rhodia
- BASF
- Lanxess
- Asahi Kasei
- Sumitomo Chemical