MIBK (CAS: 108-10-1) is a colorless transparent liquid, stable in nature, similar to camphor odor. The density is 0.8010, the boiling point is 116 °C, and the freezing point is -84.7 °C. It is soluble in ethanol, and slightly soluble in water. In addition, it is a solvent for spray paint, nitrofibers, certain fibrous ethers, camphor, grease, natural and synthetic rubbers. It is also used in the synthesis of agricultural production systems. Its vapor and air can form an explosive mixture, which will have strong local irritation and toxicity.
Because it has the characteristics of flammability and explosion, it is recommended to take electrostatic measures and seal it in a well-ventilated place.
Where does MIBK come from?
About 5% of the world`s acetone is used to produce MIBK. With the elimination of isopropanol method, the current production process of MIBK is divided into acetone three-step method and one-step method.
Acetone three-step method: acetone condensation to diacetone alcohol; Diacetone alcohol is dehydrated to produce isopropylideneacetone; Methyl isobutyl ketone is obtained by selective hydrogenation of isopropylideneacetone with a copper catalyst, followed by distillation and separation.
The three-step acetone method is simple to operate and the catalyst is cheap. However, it has problems such as high investment and long process flow. At present, Dow and Mitsui are using this method.
The one-step synthesis of MIBK by acetone was industrialized in 1968. In the late 1960s, Germany`s Texaco Company developed a new type of catalyst with dual functions of dehydration and hydrogenation. This allows the above three step reaction to be completed in one step. Firstly, bimolecular acetone is condensed and dehydrated on the acid center of the catalyst to generate MO; Subsequently, MO is rapidly hydrogenated at the hydrogenation center of the catalyst to generate MIBK. The acetone one-step process has the characteristics of short process flow, low investment, and low raw material consumption. Due to its technical and cost advantages, it is a mainstream production process.
MIBK global production capacity is mainly concentrated in Shell, Dow, Eastman, Sasol, Kumho Chemical, Mitsui Chemical, Mitsubishi Chemical, Celanese and other production enterprises.
Where does MIBK go?
MIBK is a medium boiling solvent and chemical intermediate with excellent performance, mainly used in the synthesis of rubber antioxidants, lubricating oil dewaxing agents, organic synthesis extractants, thinners and surfactants for aircraft and automobile tires.
MIBK Market Share
From 2017 to 2021, China`s imports of MIBK products showed a decreasing trend year by year. Since China imposed anti-dumping duties on South Korea, Japan and South Africa in 2018, imports have begun to shrink and the self-sufficiency rate of domestic products has increased.
In recent years, the pandemic has exacerbated the pace of import contraction. In 2021, China`s total imports of MIBK products have dropped to 21,800 tons, a difference of 15.5% from 2020, and the average monthly import volume is 1,800 tons. This means increased export opportunities. However, the shutdown of the Zhenjiang plant at the end of 2022 has added uncertainty, and it is expected that imports will increase in the short term in 2023.
MIBK's demand and supply
MIBK belongs to the deep processing product with a relatively small downstream volume of acetone, and its overall industrial chain is in the terminal direction of the chemical chain. Trading market sentiments slumped with declining demand from the domestic region's downstream paints and coatings sector. The downstream cyclicality of MIBK in China is strong, and the peak consumption of tire production in the first and third quarters of each year is comparatively large. With the rise of emerging manufacturing countries such as Southeast Asia and India. Global downstream orders for coatings, adhesives, and other MIBK began to shift from China to Southeast Asia and India.
MIBK technical indicators
As of 2022,MIBK has a total of 6 manufacturers in China. They are all produced using acetone in one step. Among them, the purity of MIBK products produced by Kailing Chemical can reach 99.9%, which is higher than that of other factories.
MIBK future trends
From the perspective of China`s MIBK production and imports, the supply is greater than the market demand. However, the cost of foreign import sources is relatively low, and imported sources have a certain impact on the domestic market. Therefore, the competition of MIBK in the future will mainly focus on product quality, production cost and price. With the shutdown of the domestic Zhenjiang factory, the normal start of Zhangjiagang Kailing Chemical, and the replacement of new and old production capacity, the market pattern may change tremendously.
From 2010 to 2016, with the rapid development of the rubber and tire industry, the demand for antioxidants increased significantly, reaching 470,000 tons in 2016.
From 2017 to 2020, under the influence of relevant policies such as capacity reduction, new and old kinetic energy conversion and safety supervision, the cost of equipment and labor continues to increase, and the capital risks of small and medium-sized enterprises increase. These factors have led to a low operating load in the industrygenerally. Affected by the epidemic in 2020-2022, the demand for antioxidants remained stable.
Therefore, we need to continuously expand the application field of MIBK, such as focusing on the subdivision of non-antioxidants, especially coatings, pharmaceuticals, and pesticides to promote the steady growth of MIBK consumption and the sustainable development of the industry.
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