Asahi Kasei tech for CO2-based chemicals in China starts commercial operation

In China, Jiangsu Sailboat Petrochemical (Sailboat) started commercial operation of a new carbonates plant in Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province, the People’s Republic of China, in November 2024. The plant uses technology licensed from Asahi Kasei for the production of high-purity ethylene carbonate (EC) and dimethyl carbonate (DMC) with carbon dioxide (CO2) as a main raw material. Both carbonates are used as electrolyte solvents in lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles.

In the early 2000s, Asahi Kasei developed process technology to produce various chemical products using CO2 as a main raw material. The technology has been licensed to chemical companies globally, with the first licensee starting the production of polycarbonate using CO2 in 2002. Since then, Asahi Kasei has been expanding its expertise in the field of CO2-based production of resins and other chemicals, including carbonates.

Demand for lithium-ion batteries is expected to continue increasing due to the global shift to EVs in the automotive industry and greater use of electric power storage systems (ESS) in conjunction with growing use of renewable energy. Ethylene carbonate (EC) and dimethyl carbonate (DMC) are two essential materials for the production of lithium-ion battery electrolytes. In addition, reducing the carbon footprint of products (CFP) for materials and components is a major challenge for manufacturers worldwide.

In September 2021, Asahi Kasei and Chinese client Sailboat signed a license agreement for process technology to produce 38,000 tons of high-purity EC and 70,000 tons of high-purity DMC annually. The two parties jointly performed the design, construction, and commissioning of a production plant. Having started commercial operation in November 2024, the plant has the capacity to use 54,000 tons of CO2 per year as feedstock. With several licensees now adopting this process technology for the large-scale production of high-purity carbonates using CO2 as feedstock, the total amount of CO2 used as feedstock is approximately 300,000 tons annually, including the production of polycarbonate as well as carbonates.