Celanese (Nanjing) Chemical, a subsidiary of US chemical and specialty materials company Celanese, has agreed with Southwest Institute of Chemical Company (SWCHEM) and Yankuang Lunan Chemical to build a pilot plant in China to test the production at industrial scale of acrylic acid using acetic acid feedstock.

Based on its original proprietary research, Celanese is developing together with SWCHEM a route to produce acrylic acid via the condensation of acetic acid with formaldehyde.  The process is a potential alternative to traditional technologies; the most widely used process for making acrylic acid is the vapor phase oxidation of propylene.

Under the terms of the agreement, Yankuang Lunan will build a pilot facility in Teng Zhou to finish commercial production trials.

“This could create additional demand for acetic acid while also improving the supply options for acrylic acid consumers,” said John Fotheringham, senior vice president of Celanese’s Acetyls business.

Chen Jiang, SWCHEM’s president added: “SWCHEM has a longstanding relationship with Celanese dating back to 2008. This agreement marks the expansion of our cooperation into deeper value chain of the acetyls industry.”

The companies did not disclose a timescale for the project.