RELEASED ON 09/01/13 (DD/MM/YY)

Showa Denko is ready to commercialize an acrylonitrile production process with high generation of hydrocyanic acid as byproduct, as part of a plan to expand its acrylonitrile business operations. Details are unavailable, but the process is said to have significantly increased production of hydrocyanic acid and is scheduled to replace the existing process this year to raise derivative production at relatively low investment cost.

Demand is strong for alanine and glycine, two amino acids derived from hydrocyanic acid that are widely used to preserve, fortify and improve the taste of seafood products and processed foods. With the greater availability of hydrocyanic acid, the production of these derivatives can be boosted, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of Showa Denko's acrylonitrile business operations.

The company's plant in Kawasaki is capable of producing 56,000 t/y of acrylonitrile using propylene sourced from within the same complex. The acrylonitrile is supplied to domestic and overseas manufacturers of acrylonitrile derivatives such as acrylic fibers and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer while by-produced hydrocyanic acid is processed into alanine and glycine.

SOURCE Japan Chemical Week