Propylene Oxide; an Industrially Important Chemical Intermediate for the Production of Polyurethane Monomers
Propylene
oxide is acutely toxic and carcinogenic organic compound with molecular formula
CH3CHCH2O. Propylene oxide is a colorless, reactive liquid often used as a
building block to manufacture a versatile range of derivative products. It is
an important bulk chemical which is extensively used as an intermediate to
produce glycol ethers, polyurethane polyols, dipropylene glycol, surfactants, lubricants,
oil demulsifiers, industrial polyglycols, and isopropanolamines, and is also
used as a solvent and soil sterilants.
According
to Coherent Market insights the Propylene
Oxide Market Global Industry Insights, Trends, Outlook, and Opportunity
Analysis, 2022-2028.
Propylene
oxide is also used to produce polyethers (primary component of polyurethane
foams) and propylene glycol. Propylene oxide is an important basic chemical
intermediate. Nearly all of the propylene oxide produced is converted into
derivatives, often for applications similar to those of ethylene oxide
derivatives. It is an organic compound widely used to produce polyether polyols,
in turn is used to produce polyurethane plastics. Between 60 and 70% of all
propylene oxide is converted to polyether polyols by the process called
alkoxylation.
These
polyols are building blocks in the production of polyurethane plastics. Propylene
oxide is an industrially important chemical intermediate for producing
polyurethane monomers. The oxide fine various applications in both automotive
and construction industries. Hydraulic fuels, car seats brakes, coolants,
sealants, paints, and flexible foams are components which propylene oxide in
the automotive industry. Moreover, it is used as a chemical for waterproofing,
paints, grouts, adhesives, coatings, and materials.
Thus,
there is an increasing demand for propylene oxide from the various end-use
industries, especially form the automotive and construction/infrastructure
industry. Dow Inc. (US), AGC Inc. (Japan), and BASF SE (Germany) are some of
the leading suppliers of propylene oxide. In 2020, the production volume of
propylene oxide in Japan amounted to around 350 thousand tons and the sales
volume amounted to around 281 thousand metric tons.
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