Asahi Kasei is certified for sustainable acrylonitrile

DUSSELDORF, Germany—Asahi Kasei Europe GmbH, a chemical manufacturer and supplier, has achieved an important milestone toward production of acrylonitrile from biomass processes with its ISCC PLUS certification.

The certification, awarded by the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification system, covers bio-based carbon materials produced outside the European Union and supplied globally, and manages and ensures sustainable raw materials in the supply chain.

Specifically, Asahi Kasei subsidiary Tongsuh Petrochemical Ltd. achieved the certification. Production of AN using biomass propylene is set to begin in February, according to Asahi Kasei.

Acrylonitrile, an important building block in many synthetic rubbers, typically is produced by traditional methods that push chemicals through a reactor and then a sulfuric bath. Asahi Kasei uses a process that gathers the AN from biomass propylene, which itself is "one of the most important chemical intermediates in organic chemistry."

Propylene can be generated when hydrocarbons are heated, or when bioethanol is generated from biomass fermentation—agricultural, private household, industrial or forestry waste.

Food crops such as rapeseed, corn, wheat, sugar beet or sunflowers also are used as raw materials, Asahi Kasei said.

AN is used in ABS resin, acrylamide, acrylic fiber and other products.

"Recent demand growth has been particularly robust in the applications of carbon fiber as a material to reduce the weight of wind turbine blades, and nitrile rubber for medical gloves, whose use is expanding due to heightened awareness for hygiene," the company said in a Jan. 25 release announcing the ISCC certification.

Asahi Kasei, with 44,000 international employees, has applications in three major segments, including materials, homes and health care.