AkzoNobel recently announced it has developed a new process for making ethyleneamines.
There are currently two routes for making the class of chemicals: typically either ethylene dicloride or monoethanolamine is reacted with ammonia. But these processes are often either inefficient or expensive.
While AkzoNobel did not release extensive details about its alternative technology, the company did say that it involves “reacting an ethanolamine functional compound with an amine functional compound in the presence of a carbon oxide delivering agent.”
AkzoNobel says that it plans to begin construction on a demonstration plant next year to showcase the new technology. The new process will reportedly be cheaper, more energy efficient and allow the company to expand its portfolio of amines.
The ethyleneamines AkzoNobel plans to produce include chemicals used in the oil and gas industry, as an intermediate for epoxy curing.
“We are excited to announce this technology, which underlines our commitment to the global ethylene amines market,” sJoppe Smit, general manager of AkzoNobel’s Ethylene Amines business, said. “It offers unique benefits to our customers in comparison to mainstream technology and we strongly believe it has the potential to become a game-changer in the industry.”
