Product Focus

Ethyl Acetate: A Techno-Commercial Profile

PANKAJ DUTIA
E-mail: pankaj@chemicalweekly.com

INTRODUCTION manufacture, but the larger ones use continuous

E
thyl acetate is a colourless liquid with a fruity columns with a reboiler for the reaction. The water
odour, having a molecular weight of 88.10. It formed in the reaction (and also from the 95% alcohol
is slightly soluble in water and soluble in most used as raw material) is removed continuously. Condi-
organic solvents, such as alcohol, acetone, ether and tions are such as to ensure maximum conversion of
chloroform. It finds use as a solvent in a wide range of acetic acid, which is costlier than ethyl alcohol.
applications, across many industries, including:
TABLE 1
Surface coating and thinners: Ethyl acetate is one SPECIFICATIONS OF ETHYL ACETATE
of the most popular solvents and finds wide use in the USED IN INDIA
manufacture of nitrocellulose lacquers, varnishes and Property Value
thinners. It exhibits high dilution ratios with both aro-
matic and aliphatic diluents and is the least toxic of Clarity Clear, colourless liquid
industrial organic solvents. Ester contents 99.0
(% by mass, Min)
Pharmaceuticals: Ethyl acetate is an important com- Acidity as acetic acid 0.01
ponent in extractants for the concentration and purifi- (% by mass, Max)
cation of antibiotics. It is also used as an intermediate Water content 0.1
in the manufacture of various drugs. (% by mass, Max)
Residue on evaporation 0.01
Flavours and essences: Ethyl acetate finds exten- (% by mass, Max)
sive use in the preparation of synthetic fruit essences, Relative density at 2/27°C 0.894 -0.898
flavours and perfumes. Distillation range Shall distil within the
(at 760 mm Hg), not less range of 76-78°C
Flexible packaging: Substantial quantities of ethyl than 95 % by volume
acetate are used in the manufacture of flexible packag-
ing and in the manufacture of polyester films and BOPP Developments in process
films. It is also used in the treatment of aluminium foils. Most commercial production is by esterification of
acetic acid with ethanol or liquid-phase oxidation of
Miscellaneous: Ethyl acetate is used in the manu- n-butane with ethyl acetate as a by product, but some
facture of adhesives, cleaning fluids, inks, nail-polish material is also made by condensation of acetaldehyde.
removers and silk, coated papers, explosives, artificial
leather, photographic films & plates. Several new technologies have been commercialised.
BP’s new Avada process, employed in a new plant at
Manufacture Hull, UK, uses ethylene and acetic acid with solid acid
Ethyl acetate is produced by the esterification reac- catalyst. Davy Process Technology (formerly Kvaerner)
tion of ethyl alcohol and acetic acid using catalysts such has licensed its ethanol-based process to Sasol; in this
as sulphuric acid, para toluene sulphonic acid or ion process ethanol is dehydrogenated to acetaldehyde,
exchange resins. Most of the production in India is based which further reacts to form ethyl acetate.
on sulphuric acid catalysis; very little acid is required,
though corrosion is a problem if material of construc- Chinese National Petroleum has developed a one-
tion is not appropriate. step ethanol process where ethanol is partially oxidised
to acetic acid and then esterified with excess ethanol to
There are small producers using batch process for give ethyl acetate.
CHEMICAL WEEKLY AUGUST 10, 2004 ■ 179
Product Focus
PRESENT STATUS IN INDIA during the period 1996-97 to 2003-04. The capacity
Until few years ago there were more than two dozen utilisation during 2003-04 was 75%.
units – both in the organised and small-scale sector –
making ethyl acetate. However, after globalisation, TABLE 3
consolidation and restructuring has resulted into PRODUCTION TRENDS
unviable units moving out of the business. Today, there IN ETHYL ACETATE
are only nine units in operation, with a total capacity of [Tons]
121,500-tpa (see Table 2). Years Production

Jubilant Organosys Ltd. (formerly VAM Organics), 1990-91 18,700

Laxmi Organics, Industrial Organics (formerly Trident 1996-97 48,000
Alco-chem) and Somaiya Organics are the four major 2001-02 65,000
producers constituting 90% of the total capacity and 2002-03 75,000
90% of the total production. 2003-04 90,000
Source: Industry
Production of ethyl acetate is estimated to have grown
from 18,700-tons in 1990-91 to 48,000-tons in 1996- Foreign trade
97 and further to 90,000-tons in 2003-04. Production Small quantities of ethyl acetate are imported into
has registered a growth rate of 17% per annum during the country, while good quantities are exported. Table
the period 1990-91 to 1996-97 and 11% per annum 4 and Table 5 provide import end export statistics dur-
TABLE 2
CAPACITY AND PRODUCTION OF ETHYL ACETATE IN INDIA [2003-04]
(Tons)
Location Installed Estimated Status
capacity production
Laxmi Organic Industries Ltd. Mahad, Mah. 30,000 24,000
Jubilant Organosys Ltd. Nira, Mah.
Gajraula, U.P. 49,500 30,000
Somaiya Organics Ltd. U.P. 15,000 15,000
Industrial Organics Ltd. Ludhiana, Pun. 16,500 n.a
Dhampur Alco-Chem Ltd. Delhi 9,000 n.a
Sanjivani SSK Ahmednagar, Mah. 2,400 n.a Partially operating
Indian Organics Khopoli, Mah. 9,000 0 Closed
Ashok Organics Nandasari, Guj. 1,800 n.a
Trichy Distilleries Trichy, T.N. 1,800 n.a
King Chemicals T.N. 3,600 0 Closed
Ester Industries Ltd. Delhi 7,000 0 Closed
Mysore Acetate Mandia, Kar. 600 0 Closed
Andhra Sugars Tanuku, A.P. 1,268 0 Closed
Vamotivala Mumbai, Mah. 1,800 0 Closed
Pentokey Organics Mumbai, Mah. 5,000 n.a Partially operating
Krishna Orgochem 1,200 0 Closed
Ichalkaranji Ichalkaranji, Mah. 1,800 0 Closed
EID Parry Thyagavalli, T.N. 1,500 0 Closed
Total 158,768 90,000
Total capacity in operation 121,500 90,000
Source: Industry

180 ■ AUGUST 10, 2004 CHEMICAL WEEKLY

 Product Focus
ing the last few years. As can be seen, imports have TABLE 7
been fluctuating between 100 to 600-tons, although PRICE TREND IN ETHYL ACETATE
there are market indications that they have increased [Rs. Per kg]
substantially in the last couple of months. The unit CIF Period Basic bulk Market rate
value paid on imports has also been fluctuating.
May 2003 28.00 39.00
As can be observed from Table 5, exports have been June 2003 28.00 38.50
witnessing an increasing trend and have grown from Aug. 2003 27.50 37.50
1,474-tons in 1998-99 to 28,948-tons in 2002-03 and Sep. 2003 28.00 38.00
to estimated figure of 32,000-tons in 2003-04. The to- Oct. 2003 27.50 37.50
tal value of exports during 2002-03 was Rs. 94.70- Nov. 2003 27.50 37.00
crore. Dec. 2003 29.00 39.00
Jan. 2004 28.50 38.50
The unit FOB value realised from exports is in the Feb. 2004 29.00 39.00
range of Rs. 29-33 per kg. The major destination of March 2004 31.00 41.00
exports are UAE, Taiwan, Netherlands, Malaysia, Iran, April 2004 34.00 45.00
Egypt, Sri Lanka and Thailand. May 2004 35.00 47.00
June 2004 38.00 52.00
TABLE 4
July 2004 40.00 54.00
IMPORTS OF ETHYL ACETATE
Note: Market rate is for packed material and includes Excise Duty
Year Quantity Value Unit value
[Tons] [Rs. Lakhs] [Rs/Kg] Consumption pattern and demand
1998-1999 165.77 15.97 96.33 The present total demand for ethyl acetate is esti-
1999-2000 604.12 20.39 33.74 mated to be in the region of 90,000-tons. This consti-
2000-2001 129.06 11.51 89.19 tutes domestic demand of 55,000-tons and export de-
2001-2002 91.63 9.19 100.27 mand of 35,000-tons.
2002-2003 362.55 22.46 61.95
Source: DGCIS
Table 8 provides the pattern of consumption during
2003-04.
TABLE 5
EXPORTS OF ETHYL ACETATE TABLE 8
CONSUMPTION PATTERN OF ETHYL
Year Quantity Value Unit value ACETATE [2003-04]
[Tons] [Rs. million] [Rs/Kg]
Sector Consumption Share
1998-1999 1,474.12 42.75 29.00 [Tons] [%]
1999-2000 5,832.65 1,46.25 25.07
2000-2001 7,027.47 2,32.12 33.03 Paints & Inks 13,750 25.0
2001-2002 9,630.20 2,98.99 31.04 Adhesives 5,500 10.0
2002-2003 28,948.83 9,47.13 32.72 Flexible packaging 13,750 25.0
2003-2004 35,000.00 — — Pharma 11,000 20.0
Source: DGCIS
Al. Foils 5,500 10.0
Electronics 1,650 3.0
Price trend Misc. uses 3,850 7.0
The current basic price of ethyl acetate for bulk sales Total 55,000 100.0
is Rs. 40 per kg exclusive of excise and sales tax. The
price of the packed material in carbouys is ruling around Paints
Rs. 54 per kg, excluding sales tax. The trend in the prices The paints and printing ink industry are the biggest
over the period of last two years is given in Table 7. consumers of ethyl acetate in India. It is used as a sol-
CHEMICAL WEEKLY AUGUST 10, 2004 ■ 181
Product Focus
TABLE 6
DESTINATION-WISE EXPORTS OF ETHYL ACETATE
[Quantity in Tons; Value in Rs. Million]
2000-01 2001-02 2002-03
Qty Val Qty Val Qty Val
Australia 115.20 3.81 216.00 6.66 337.60 11.37
Bangladesh 14.40 0.38 65.80 2.52 280.00 9.55
Barbados 28.80 0.93
Belgium 236.15 9.39
Brazil 0.25 0.06
China 662.30 17.23
Colombia 0.85 0.02
Cyprus 168.80 5.19
Egypt 260.00 8.81 1,141.00 34.52 1,822.20 60.24
Germany 220.22 11.43
Greece 14.40 0.43 387.80 14.17
Hong Kong 115.20 3.13 28.80 0.68 135.12 5.32
Iran 0.01 2,607.60 79.51
Israel 144.40 4.59 404.51 13.35 445.60 15.05
Italy 616.49 22.59
Jamaica 72.00 2.39
Japan 20.80 0.79 28.80 0.70
Jordan 54.00 2.29 286.38 8.89
Kenya 130.05 4.27 273.65 8.42 156.80 5.19
Korea North 204.75 5.18
Lebanon 72.00 2.19 547.20 17.97
Malaysia 561.67 19.43 1,297.20 42.73 2,720.48 81.27
Maldives 0.20 0.01
Mauritius 0.50
Nepal 24.60 0.68
Netherlands 0.40 0.08 2,803.07 120.89
Netherlands Antilles 569.23 17.91
New Zealand 59.00 2.11 43.20 1.57
Nigeria 14.25 0.46 57.20 1.59
Oman 193.80 5.64 208.45 7.56 100.40 3.34
Pakistan 11.00 0.85
Philippines 14.40 0.44
Russia 21.00 0.63
Saudi Arabia 14.40 0.47 489.60 15.09 451.60 15.71
Singapore 49.30 1.52 402.40 11.52 315.04 10.62
Slovenia 40.79 1.95
South Africa 42.80 1.36 92.00 2.99
Spain 261.56 9.30
Sri Lanka 0.37 0.05 28.40 0.89 1,014.60 35.18
Syria 43.20 1.18 86.40 2.78
Taiwan 1,460.15 45.95 1,086.64 27.76 2,536.61 66.99
Tanzania 14.40 0.44
Thailand 172.80 5.24 129.80 4.00 1,176.87 33.91
Tunisia 14.40 0.35
Turkey 229.20 7.73
Turks C Islands 379.80 13.56
UAE 3,627.15 113.44 3,062.72 89.61 6,995.83 221.60
USA 6.19 9.33 6.23 9.94
Vietnam 14.40 0.46 129.60 4.16
Yemen 14.40 0.48 71.60 2.20 128.80 4.07
Total 7,027.47 232.12 9,630.21 298.99 28,948.33 947.14

182 ■ AUGUST 10, 2004 CHEMICAL WEEKLY


vent in the manufacture of nitrocellulose based paints,
thinners & varnishes. In fact, ethyl acetate was the most
preferred solvent by the paints and printing inks indus-
try around five-years back, accounting for around 50%
of total consumption. However, its share in this indus-
try has come down sharply to 25% due to greater use
of cheaper solvents such as acetone, MIBK, etc. Higher
prices of ethyl acetate have prompted many paint and
ink consumers to switchover to cheaper solvents.
The consumption of ethyl acetate in paints and inks
segment is estimated to be in the region of 13,750-tons,
constituting 25% of total demand in 2003-04.
Adhesives
This end-use accounts for around 10% of total con-
sumption. Converters & Adhesives Chemicals Ltd.,
Navi Mumbai is the biggest user in this segment. Total
consumption by the adhesives industry is estimated at
5,500-tons annually.
Flexible packaging & lamination
Ethyl acetate due to its fast evaporating properties
is used in flexible packaging industry at the screen print-
ing stage. This industry has emerged as one of the bulk
consumers of ethyl acetate. The packaging industry was
hardly recognised as an industry about three decades
back, but recognition came, and that too at a galloping
pace. Today, it has attained the status of a large scale
industry, which boasts not only of technological ad-
vancement, but also of meeting export needs. Out of
the various packing products, flexible laminates are
enjoying a healthy growth rate. The industry is enjoy-
ing growth of around 15% per annum.
Some of the major manufacturers of flexible pack-
aging are: Flex Industry Ltd., Delhi; Garware Plastics
& Polyesters Ltd.; Essel Packing Ltd., Mumbai; Ester
Industries Ltd.; Sharp Industries Ltd., Mumbai; Bakelite
Hylam Ltd.; Flexo Films Ltd.; and Cosmo Films Ltd.
The total consumption of ethyl acetate in this sector
is estimated at 13,750-tons, constituting 25% of total
consumption.
Pharmaceuticals
Like the paints industry, the pharmaceuticals was
also one of the major users of ethyl acetate five-years
ago, accounting for 35% of total consumption. This
share has also come down to 20% again due to rising
CHEMICAL WEEKLY
Product Focus
prices of ethyl acetate. It is used as a solvent and reac-
tant in the manufacture of drugs such as sulpha-
methoxazole, rifampicin etc. The total consumption by
this sector is presently estimated at 11,000-tons.
Aluminium foils
Ethyl acetate finds usage in the treatment of alu-
minium foils & sheets. It is also used during the screen
printing stage. India Foils Ltd., Kolkata; Indian Alu-
minium Co. Ltd., Thane; and P.G. Foils, Rajasthan are
the three manufacturers of aluminium foils. The con-
sumption of ethyl acetate by this sector is 5,500-tons.
Electronics
Small quantities of ethyl acetate are also used in the
manufacture of video/audio tapes. Magnetic media of
tapes are purified with ethyl acetate. It is also used for
head cleaning, etc. In fact, ethyl acetate of 99.7% qua-
lity is the best solvent for cleaning, etc. However, pro-
duction is concentrated in the small scale sector. The
consumption by this sector is estimated in the region of
1,650-tons
Miscellaneous uses
The other minor applications of ethyl acetate include
its applications in the textiles, dyestuffs, explosives,
photographic films & plates, artificial leather, etc.
Around 300-tons of ethyl acetate are being consumed
by ordinance factories for use in explosives. These mis-
cellaneous uses account for a total consumption of
3,850-tons, constituting 7% of total consumption.
Future demand for ethyl acetate
Among the different end-use segments of ethyl ace-
tate, the packaging, adhesives and pharmaceutical in-
dustries is enjoying a healthy growth rate in the range
of 12 to 15% per annum. The growth rates in other
segments, such as paints, foils, electronics etc. is ex-
pected to be in the region of around 5-7% per annum.
Sources within the industry are expecting an average
growth rate of around 8% per annum.
Based on this growth rate, the domestic demand for
ethyl acetate is estimated to be around 75,000-tons by
2007-08. As far as export demand is concerned, ac-
cording to industry sources the demand has already
peaked and may not increase, in future, but may de-
cline due to alcohol shortage within the country and
high prices of raw materials.
AUGUST 10, 2004 ■ 183
Product Focus
GLOBAL SCENARIO trial lacquers and surface coating resins. It is also used
The total global capacity for ethyl acetate is esti- as an extraction solvent in the production of pharma-
mated to be in the region of 1.5-mt and the production ceuticals and food and as a carrier solvent for herbi-
at around 1.3-mt. BP Chemicals, UK; Showa Denka, cides. About 60% of demand is in coatings. Process
Japan; Rhodia Brasil, Brazil; and Celanese, US are the solvents, including pharmaceuticals and organic syn-
major producers (see Table 9). thesis, account for 15% of demand, as does printing
inks. Miscellaneous uses, including adhesives and cos-
Consumption pattern metics, account for 10% of consumption.
Ethyl acetate is an active solvent that is available in
three grades: 85-88%, 99% and 99.5% (urethane grade). Europe
The most popular grade, 99% is mainly used in indus- The European markets are suffering from weak de-
TABLE 9
MAJOR GLOBAL ETHYL ACETATE PRODUCERS
[’000 TPA]
Company Location Capacity
Aliachem Pardubice, Czech Republic 12
Atanor Buenos Aires, Argentina 10
BP Chemicals Hull, UK 220
Celanese La Cangrejera, Mexico 92
Pampa, Texas, US 60
Pulau Sakra, Singapore 60
Chiba Ethyl Acetate Ichihara, Japan 50
Eastman Kingsport, Tennessee, US 27
Longview, Texas, US 32
Ercros Tarragona, Spain 60
International Ester Ulsan, South Korea 75
Jubilant Organosys Gajraula and Nira, India 32
Korea Alcohol Industrial Ulsan, South Korea 25
Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Yokkaichi, Japan 40
Laxmi Organic Industries Mahad, India 35
Rhodia Brasil Paulinia, Brazil 100
Sasol Secunda, South Africa 50
Shandong Jinyimeng Chemical Shandong, China 80
Shanghai Jinyimeng Chemical Wujing, China 30
Showa Denko Nanyo, Japan 150
Showa Esterindo Indonesia Merak, Indonesia 60
Solutia Antwerp, Belgium, Springfield 12
Massachusetts, US 14
Treton, Michigan, US 11
Svensk Etanolkemi Domsjo, Sweden 35
Union Carbide Stockholm, Sweden 30
Yangtze River Acetyls Chongging, China 30
1432
Others 83
Total 1515
Source: ECN

184 ■ AUGUST 10, 2004 CHEMICAL WEEKLY

 Product Focus
mand and excess availability. The economic slowdown Japan
has impacted consumption this year, particularly in the In Japan, Showa Denko set up a 55:45 joint venture
printing inks and coatings. Supply has also lengthened with Kyowa Hakko Kogyo, called Japan Ethyl Acetate,
following the restart of BP’s Hull, UK plant in late and the partners are converting an idled acetic acid fa-
2002 after a six-month long outage and this, together cility at Oita to produce 100,000-tpa of ethyl acetate.
with players fighting for market share, has added to Production was expected to start in April this year.
pressure on prices. Import volumes have declined, par- Kyowa Hakko will then close its existing unit in
ticularly in the second half of this year. Less material is Yokkaichi.
now available from Russia, where output has been re-
duced and plants focus instead on the production and The US Scenario
export of acetic acid feedstock. Future demand growth In the US, Celanese, Eastman, and Solutia are the
in Europe is put at 2-3% per year. No new capacity is major producers with a total combined capacity of
planned, or likely, in Europe. Most capital investment is 0.132-mt.
targeted for Asia, and China in particular, where demand
is growing rapidly. The Southeast Asian paints and coat- TABLE 10
ings market is expected to grow at 5-6% per year. ETHYL ACETATE CAPACITY IN U.S.
Producer Annual Annual
Asia-Pacific capacity capacity
China [million lbs] [tons]
Between 1990 and 2000, China increased capacity
for ethyl acetate by over 14% and output by around Celanese, Pampa, Tex. 130 59,091
15%. Imports remained at a high level. The acetic acid/ Eastman, Kingsport, Tenn. 59 26,818
ethanol esterification process is used by most produ- Eastman, Longview, Tex. 51 23,182
cers in China and the operating rate is relatively low. Solutia, Springfield, Ma. 30 13,636
Larger acetate units completed since 2001 include a Solutia, Trenton, Mich. 24 10,909
30,000-tpa unit in May 2001 by Shandong Jinyimeng Total 294 133,636
Group, which now has a capacity of 80,000-tpa. In all, Source: Chemical Market Reporter
China has over 30 producers with a total capacity of
around 391,700-tpa and an output of around 200,000- Capacities are extremely flexible, as ethyl acetate
tons during 2002. Shandong Jinyimeng Group and can be made in the same equipment used to produce
Yangzijiang Acetyl Chemical Co Ltd. are the two lead- other acetate esters, depending on demand. Most com-
ing producers among the top-ten producers, with a ca- mercial production is by esterification of acetic acid
pacity of 80,000-tpa each. with ethanol or liquid-phase oxidation of n-butane with
ethyl acetate as a by product, but some material is made
China imported 45,800-tons of ethyl acetate in 2002 by condensation of acetaldehyde. The demand for ethyl
and exported 11,000-tons. The apparent consumption of acetate in US was 71,000-tons in 2001 and 68,000-
ethyl acetate in China is about 238,200-tons, which is tons in 2002. Demand for the year 2006 is projected at
expected to rise to 260,000-tons in 2005. While ethyl ace- 81,000-tons.
tate is used mostly in inks and coatings worldwide, in China
the main applications are pharmaceuticals and adhesives. The historical growth during the period 1997-2002
Several new plants are slated in China for post-2004. was -5.3% per year. Ethyl acetate is used for a variety
Showa Denko is considering building a new plant in China of solvent and vehicle applications: Coatings, 60%;
or expanding its Indonesian subsidiary by 20,000-tpa in a Process solvent, including pharmaceuticals and organic
span of two years. If the company decides to build in China, synthesis, 15%; Printing inks, 15%; Miscellaneous, in-
it will be in either Shanghai-Nanjing or Hong Kong- cluding adhesives and cosmetics, 10%.
Guangdong, as these are areas where ethyl acetate de-
mand is strongest. The additional output will take the firm’s Ethyl acetate is used as a solvent in a variety of coat-
overall capacity to 300,000-tpa, making it the world’s big- ing formulations including epoxies, urethanes,
gest manufacturer of ethyl acetate, surpassing BP. cellulosics, acrylics and vinyls. These coatings are used
CHEMICAL WEEKLY AUGUST 10, 2004 ■ 185
Product Focus
for wood furniture and fixtures, agricultural, construc-
tion and mining equipment, containers and closures,
auto refinishing, and maintenance and marine applica-
tions. Over the past twenty years, ethyl acetate coat-
ings have been losing share to waterborne and high-
solids coatings, powder and two-component coatings
systems, due to environmental constraints on volatile
organic compound (VOC) emissions. This conversion
has apparently run its course, and that market which
still remains should begin growing again, but at less
than GDP growth.
Ethyl acetate is used as a solvent in inks for
flexographic and rotogravure printing, where its main
function is to dissolve the resin, control the viscosity
and modify the drying rate. As with industrial coat-
ings, the decline in the use of acetate because of envi-
ronmental constraints has largely been completed and
future growth is estimated to be a healthy 3% per an-
num.
While demand has fallen during the past five years,
averaging a decline of 5% per year, production has held
relatively steady at 270-mn pounds. During this time,
186 ■ AUGUST 10, 2004
ethyl acetate exports were increasing at a rate even
higher than the domestic demand decline, 6.5%. The
market, however, was balanced by a decline in imported
material, amounting to -6.8% annually.
With signs of the economy turning around ethyl ace-
tate demand is already up considerably in 2003. Total
demand for the year is projected to be 175-mn pounds
– a considerable turnaround from the past five years.
Consistent with this, exported product is down consi-
derably over last year (down 20%, annualised), while
imported product is up 50% over 2002. For the fore-
cast period through 2006, demand growth is estimated
to be 3.4% per year; with most of the growth occurring
this year, then 2.0% per year thereafter.
South America
The Brazilian company Cloroetil will use Davy Pro-
cess Technology’s single-stage ethyl acetate process in its
50,000-tpa ethyl acetate plant at Sao Paulo, Brazil. In-
vestment in the plant is e21.5-mn ($25.5-mn). The con-
struction contract for the plant has been awarded to
Ferrostaal. Construction of the plant would have begun in
March 2004 and completion is scheduled for end-2005.
CHEMICAL WEEKLY