Celebrating 50 years of ADN technology innovation
“This month marks the 50th anniversary of the first commercial production of adiponitrile (ADN) from butadiene via hydrocyanation—a process innovation that resulted in a more cost-effective way to produce higher quality nylon 6,6,” said Wendell Tilley, INVISTA Orange site manager. “That process innovation took place at our site in Orange, Texas, and the facility has continued to be the home of ADN technology improvements over the years, including to our latest ADN technology that was developed here and then first deployed at our site six years ago.”
INVISTA's latest ADN technology has also been deployed at its site in Victoria, Texas, at Butachimie in France (owned 50 percent by INVISTA and 50 percent by BASF) and will be deployed at its ADN plant at the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park in China, which is targeted to begin production in 2022. This version of the technology brings improved product yields, reduced energy consumption, lower greenhouse gas emissions, enhanced process stability and reduced capital intensity, compared to existing technologies.
ADN is a key ingredient for nylon 6,6 fibers and plastics used in industries like automotive production, electronics and electrical connectors. Applications also include automotive airbag fiber, specialty apparel fibers and high-performance coatings.
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