Asahi

Adiponitrile is made commercially by several different processes utilizing different feedstocks. The original process, utilizing adipic acid (qv) as a feedstock, was first commercialized by DuPont in the late 1930s and was the basis for a number of adiponitrile plants. However, the adipic acid process was abandoned by DuPont in favor of two processes based on butadiene (qv). During the 1960s, Monsanto and Asahi developed routes to adiponitrile by the electrodimerization of acrylonitrile (qv). 

Asahi Chemical Industry Company Ltd. was working to develop an adsorption process in the late 1970s and early 1980s that was to produce high purity EB as well as PX (100—103). In 1981 they reported that pilot plants results were being confirmed in larger equipment. However, this process does not appear to have been commercialized. 

Asahi Chemical Industry Co., Ltd Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Co., Ltd. Polyplastics Co., Ltd. 

H. Kawato, M. Kakimoto, A. Tanioka, and T. Inoue, Ken u Hokoku—Asahi Garasu Kogyo Gijutsu Shoreikai 49, 77 (1986). 

Cyclohexane, produced from the partial hydrogenation of benzene [71-43-2] also can be used as the feedstock for A manufacture. Such a process involves selective hydrogenation of benzene to cyclohexene, separation of the cyclohexene from unreacted benzene and cyclohexane (produced from over-hydrogenation of the benzene), and hydration of the cyclohexane to A. Asahi has obtained numerous patents on such a process and is in the process of commercialization (85,86). Indicated reaction conditions for the partial hydrogenation are 100—200°C and 1—10 kPa (0.1—1.5 psi) with a Ru or zinc-promoted Ru catalyst (87—90). The hydration reaction uses zeotites as catalyst in a two-phase system. Cyclohexene diffuses into an aqueous phase containing the zeotites and there is hydrated to A. The A then is extracted back into the organic phase. Reaction temperature is 90—150°C and reactor residence time is 30 min (91—94). 

It has been known since the early 1950s that butadiene reacts with CO to form aldehydes and ketones that could be treated further to give adipic acid (131). Processes for producing adipic acid from butadiene and carbon monoxide [630-08-0] have been explored since around 1970 by a number of companies, especially ARCO, Asahi, BASF, British Petroleum, Du Pont, Monsanto, and Shell. BASF has developed a process sufficiendy advanced to consider commercialization (132). There are two main variations, one a carboalkoxylation and the other a hydrocarboxylation. These differ in whether an alcohol, such as methanol [67-56-1is used to produce intermediate pentenoates (133), or water is used for the production of intermediate pentenoic acids (134). The former is a two-step process which uses high pressure, >31 MPa (306 atm), and moderate temperatures (100—150°C) (132—135). Butadiene,... 

Because of projected nylon-6,6 growth of 4—10% (167) per year in the Far East, several companies have announced plans for that area. A Rhc ne-Poulenc/Oriental Chemical Industry joint venture (Kofran) announced a 1991 startup for a 50,000-t/yr plant in Onsan, South Korea (168,169). Asahi announced plans for a 15,000-t/yr expansion of adipic acid capacity at their Nobeoka complex in late 1989, accompanied by a 60,000-t/yr cyclohexanol plant at Mizushima based on their new cyclohexene hydration technology (170). In early 1990 the Du Pont Company announced plans for a major nylon-6,6 complex for Singapore, including a 90,000-t/yr adipic acid plant due to start up in 1993 (167). Plans or negotiations for other adipic acid capacity in the area include Formosa Plastics (Taiwan) (171) and BASF-Hyundai Petrochemical (South Korea) (167). Adipic acid is a truly worldwide... 

Jpii Kokai Tokkyo Koho, JP61-257940 (Nov. 15, 1986), T. Sakamoto, H. Suga, and T. Sakasegawa (to Asahi Chemical Industries Co., Ltd.). 

Jpii 45-16444 (June 8,1970), G. Inoue and co-workers (to Asahi Chemical Industries, Ltd.). 

The electrolysis of potassium chloride [7447-40-7] KCl, to produce chlorine and potassium hydroxide in membrane cells requires similar but unique membranes. Commercial membranes currendy employed in high performance membrane electroly2ers include Du Pont s Nafion 900 series and Asahi Glass s Plemion 700 series. 

Fig. 17. Schematic of Asahi Chemical Acily2er-ML bipolar electroly2er. (a) View of cell units (b) stmcture of cell.

Asahi Chemical Acdvzer De Nora Bipolar Uhde Asahi Glass AZEC-M CEC DMC-404x2 De Nora DD Lurgi ICl FM-215P OxyTech MGC... 

Y. Sajima, K. Sato, and H. Ukihashi, Recent Progress of Asahi Glass Membrane Chlor—Alkali Process, AICHE Symp. Ser. 82(248), 108 (1985). 

AcyecElectrolycyer Supply Record, Asahi Glass Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, 1987. 

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