Special Report
PRODUCT FOCUS
Acetic Acid: A Techno-Commercial Profile
Part 1: Indian Scenario
INTRODUCTION
A
cetic acid is a monocarboxylic
acid. The name is derived from
the latin word ‘actum’ for vine-
gar, of which it is the chief constitu-
ent. The synonyms of acetic acid are
methane carboxylic acid, vinegar acid
and ethanoic acid.
It is one of the most important ba-
sic heavy organic chemicals, which
finds application in several processes
in the manufacture of number of inter-
mediates/chemical products.
Acetic acid had been known to the
industry almost since sulphuric acid
has been known. Its production has
been the measure index for the devel-
opment of organic industry of the
country.
Specifications
Acetic acid is a carboxylic acid that
has been known in the form of vinegar
since very early times. It is found free
in a number of fruit juices and in com-
bined state in many oils and essential
oils.
The carboxylic acids are organic
compounds, which contain one or
more carboxylic groups [- COOH] and
have acidic properties.
Acetic acid is available in three
grades:
Technical (Commercial): 98.0%
purity;
Pure (Glacial): 99.5% purity; and
Analytical Reagent: 99.7%+ purity.
Pure acetic acid solidifies below
16.5°C to an icy mass, which gives it
the name ‘glacial acetic acid’. The pure
Chemical Weekly February 3, 2009
and analytical reagent grades of the
PANKAJ DUTIA
material are colourless, while the tech-
nical grade material can be colourless Pankaj@chemicalweekly.com
or may have a pale yellow/straw colour.
the specific consumption of acetic acid
Physical properties is relatively low. Such applications are
At ordinary temperatures, acetic considered in acetic acid used as pro-
acid is a colourless, corrosive liquid cessing aid/chemical.
with a pungent smell of its own. It boils
at 118°C and its specific gravity is The commercial applications under
1.049 at 0°C. It is miscible in water, al- each of the groups described in detail
cohol and ether in all proportions. in subsequent paragraphs are those
Acetic acid is good solvent for sulphur, which are already commercialised in
phosphorus, iodine and many organic India.
compounds. Its refractive index is
1.3718. The illustrative list of chemicals for
which acetic acid is the base includes:
Applications Acetic anhydride;
As mentioned earlier acetic acid Acetoacetamides;
finds applications in several uses in Acetoacetanilidines;
the chemical and other industries. The Acetanilide;
intermediates made from acetic acid are Acetoacetic esters;
essentially required for the manufac- Acetyl chloride;
ture of several important drugs, pesti- Acetanyl sulphonyl chloride;
cides and dyestuffs. Cationic dye fixing agents;
Cellulose acetate;
The application of acetic acid can Camphor;
be classified by its role as under: Monochloro acetic and deriva-
Acetic acid used as a processing tives;
aid (chemical); or Phenylacetic acid;
Acetic acid used as a solvent
or relation medium. Table 1
Specifications of acetic acid
Applications in which acetic Parameter Value
acid reacts with other chemicals Acetic acid content 99.85% min. by wt.
to form intermediates/chemicals/ Water 00.15% max.
products are classified as acetic Colour 10 APHA max.
acid used as a reactant (raw ma- Formic acid 00.05% max. by wt.
terial). Acetaldehyde 00.05% max. by wt.
Heavy metals as Pb Less than 2ppm
In certain applications, ace- Iodides 40 ppb max.
tic acid is used only to aid the Permanganate 2.00 hrs. min.
process (e.g. maintaining pH) Freezing point 16.4°C
and it does not react with raw Specific gravity 1.049 at 25°C
materials. In such applications
177
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 Special Report
Reactive and disperse dyes; and
Sulpha drugs.
The applications in which acetic
acid is used as processing aid/chemi-
cal are:
Finishing of textiles as curing
agents;
Bleaching of cotton and cotton/
polyester with sodium chloride;
Bleaching of wool;
Dyeing of cotton with vat dyes;
Processing of acrylic hosiery;
Manufacturing of Vitamin B12 by
fermentation;
Processing of leather and leather
cloth;
Rubber from latex;
Casein from milk for coagulation;
Flavors and spices;
Printing and writing inks;
Manufacture of nylon 6 filament
yarn;
Hydroquinone and other chemical
developers and fixers (for removal
of developed residual silver ha-
lides); and
As laboratory reagent.
However, as far as bulk consump-
tion of acetic acid is concerned the im-
portant end-uses, which determine the
overall demand for acetic acid are:
Acetic anhydride;
Vinyl acetate monomer;
Monochloro acetic acid;
Purified terephthalic acid;
Ethyl/butyl/ acetates;
Acetanilide;
Camphor;
Textile processing;
Rubber;
Dyestuffs & dyes intermediates;
Pharmaceuticals; and
Cellulose acetate.
Manufacture
Acetic acid technology is perhaps
the most diverse of all major industrial
organic chemicals. No other large vol-
ume chemical can claim the varied
feedstocks and production approaches
as acetic acid. Feedstocks include the
natural gas-based derivatives metha-
nol and carbon monoxide, ethylene
and ethylene derivatives; alkanes,
such as ethane, butane and naphtha;
syngas derived from coal; and renew-
able natural sources.
Methanol carbonylation (MC) is
now the dominant acetic acid produc-
tion, accounting for over 65% of glo-
bal capacity. This share is growing as
MC is the preferred technology for
most new plants. In general, the good
conversion and selectivity achievable
by MC technology, coupled with low
cost methanol feedstock and econo-
mies of scale enjoyed by mega-sized
plants, result in process economics
that are tough to beat.
BP and Celanese have proprietary
technology, respectively called Cativa
and AO plus. Chiyoda has recently
developed its Acetica process that
uses a bubble column reactor.
Other commercial processes are:
The oxidation of acetaldehyde
(Wacker); and
The liquid-phase oxidation of n-
butane or naphtha.
Recent developments include the
oxidation of ethylene, ethane or meth-
ane. Showa Denko has commercialised
a one-step, vapour phase process
based on the direct oxidation of ethyl-
ene and Wacker has developed a bu-
tylene-based route. Sabic has devel-
oped an ethane-based technology,
using a proprietary catalytic oxidation
process and has plants to build a
30,000-tpa plant in Yanbu, Saudi
Arabia. This process is believed to be
viable only in locations with low-cost
ethane.

Table 2
Acetic acid production technologies
Process Characteristics Feedstock Developer
Fermentation Natural biosynthesis Sugars/alcohols Many
Oxidation Non-selective alkane activation Butane/naphtha Celanese, UCC, Huls, Distillers
Oxidation Two-step ethylene process Ethylene/acetaldehyde Wacker
Carbonylation Cobalt-catalysed Methanol/CO BASF
Carbonylation Rhodium catalysed Methanol/CO Monsanto/BP
Carbonylation Acetic anhydride/acid Coal based MaOH/CO Eastman/Halcon
Carbonylation Rhodium/low water Methanol/CO Celanese AO Plus
Carbonylation Iridium/low water Methanol/CO BP (Cativa)
Oxidation One step ethylene process Ethylene Showa Denko
Carbonylation Rhodium/supported Methanol/CO Chiyoda (Acetica)
Oxidation Selective alkane activation Ethane Sabic
Fermentation High tech biocatalysis Glucose Celanese
Source: European Chemical News, April, 2003

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Renewable resource processes
The first production route for ace-
tic acid was aerobic fermentation of
ethanol. In India, there are over 15
small volume acetic acid producers,
with all but one of these companies
using sugar cane-derived molasses
fermentation as the source of ethanol.
The ethanol is catalytically dehy-
drogenated or oxidized to acetalde-
hyde, which, in turn, is oxidised to ace-
tic acid. While this technology is old,
in 2001 Perkebunan Nusantara X built
a 30,000-tpa molasses-based acetic
acid plant in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Interestingly, in 2001, Celanese
announced that it is exploring a
biocatalytic route to acetic acid in col-
laboration with Diversa. Diversa’s ex-
pertise is in bioengineering robust
biocatalysts by means of genetic ma-
nipulation. This effort must be taken
seriously, as Celanese is one of the
world leaders in acetic acid production
technologies via MC. Celanese has
stated that a biotech route may allow
smaller plants with the same or even
better economics.
Table 2 summarises different pro-
cesses employed world over for produc-
ing acetic acid and their characteristics.
Present status of the industry
The origin of the Indian acetic acid
industry is traced back to late fifties
during which companies like Indian
Organic Chemicals, Somaiya Organic,
Kolhapur Sugar Mills and Union Car-
bide took the lead.

Table 3
Acetic acid: Unitwise capacity
Units Location Capacity [tpa] Production [tons] Remarks
2007-08 2006-07
GNFC Bharuch, Gujarat 150,000 152,966 132,665
Jubilant Organosys Gajaraula, UP 145,000 140,000 125,000
Industrial Organics Ludhiana, Punjab 50,000 50,851 39,566
Laxmi Organics Mahad, Maharashtra 24,000 n.a n.a Partial operation
Somaiya Organics Sakharwadi 25,000 Nil Nil Not in operation
Sanjivani SSK Ahmednagar, Mah 9,600 Nil Nil Not in operation
Kanoria Chemicals Ltd. Ankleshwar, Gujarat 6,000 6,427 Partial operation
Trichy Distilleries Tamil Nadu 6,000 Nil Nil
S. Mohite SK Akluj Maharashtra 9,600 n.a n.a
Pentokey Organo* Maharashtra 7,000 Nil Nil Not in operation
Total 425,200 360,000 287,850
* Taken over by Somaiya Group

Table 4 Prior to globalisation there were

Acetic acid units not in operation / closed around two dozen units in the coun-
try engaged in the production of ace-
Name of unit Capacity [tpa] Status tic acid. Of these, except one unit, all
Indian Organic Chemicals 15000 Closed were making acetic acid from the etha-
Shetkari SSK, Sangli 4200 Closed nol fermentation route. The total in-
EID Parry Ltd. 9000 Closed stalled capacity in 1995-96 was 210-kt
King Chemicals Ltd. 6000 Closed (kilotons). Today, there are only
Thiru Arun Sugars 7000 Closed around a dozen units in the country
Dhampur Alco-Chem 7000 Not in operation with the total combined capacity of
Cellulose Products of India 5400 Closed 425-kt. However, of these dozen units
Gujchem Distillers 7500 Closed only six units are in actual operation.
Andhra Sugars Ltd. 1000 Closed Due to cheaper imports, problems with
Ashok Organics 15,000 Closed availability and pricing of the feed-
Ashok Alco-Chem Ltd. 10,000 Closed stock ethanol and the fact that metha-
nol based acid is cheaper than etha-
Total 87,100
nol based acid, many units have shut

Chemical Weekly February 3, 2009 179

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 Special Report

their plants temporarily, while others

have closed permanently.

State-wise Gujarat was leading with

share of 37% in total capacity, followed
by Maharashtra (33%) and Uttar Pradesh
(24%). However, after globalisation and
with the entry of methanol based acetic
acid by GNFC, a number of units had to
close down, as they were not able to
compete with cheaper imports and
methanol based acid.

Table 3 gives the current unitwise

capacity in operation while Table 4 gives
the list of units that have recently closed
or not in operation. As can be observed Source: CMIE and Annual Reports of Ministry of Chemicals & Petrochemicals
from Table 4, 11 units with combined ca-
pacity of over 87,000-tpa have closed period. The production further in- over 43-kt in the year 2002-03 and fur-
down due to economic reasons. creased to 126.6-kt in 1994-95, regis- ther to 136-kt in 2007-08. In terms of
tering a growth rate of 13% during the value, imports in the year 2007-08 were
Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilisers next five years. The production dur- Rs. 3,615-mn. The CIF value paid on
Corporation (GNFC) is the only unit mak- ing the next five years (1995-96 to imports has been in the range of Rs.
ing methanol based acetic acid, and was 1999-2000) increased from 157.9-kt to 17-18 per kg during 2000-2004. How-
the largest unit with capacity of 50,000- 225.9-kt, thereby registering a growth ever, it rose to Rs. 26 in 2007-08.
tpa, constituting 24% of the total installed rate of 9.3% per annum. The produc-
capacity during 1995-96. Today, the unit tion during 2007-08 is estimated at 360- As far as source of imports is con-
has 150,000-tpa capacity, constituting kt and the growth rate during last five cerned, the majority of the acetic acid
35% of the total capacity and 42% of the years (2003-04 to 2007-08) was only 3%. has been coming from Singapore, Ma-
total production in the country. laysia, Iran, China and the US.
The decline in the growth
Table 5
The methanol based acetic acid rate in production is mainly at-
Imports of acetic acid
production by GNFC commenced for tributed due to closure of etha-
[Quantity in tons; value in Rs. mn; and unit
the first time in the country in Septem- nol-based units and rising im- value in Rs/kg]
ber 1995. GNFC put up this plant with ports of the acetic acid by con-
technical know-how from BP Chemi- sumers as well as producers. Years Quantity Value Unit CIF
cals, UK. GNFC has further expanded Value
its capacity to 150-ktpa. Prior to the Foreign trade 1994-95 20,433 296.24 14.5
entry of GNFC, the entire production Acetic acid has been im- 1997-98 5,227 105.14 20.1
of acetic acid was based on ethanol. ported as well as exported from 1998-99 26,055 343.05 13.2
The leading producers of ethanol India. Tables 5 and 6 provide the 1999-00 33,157 465.88 14.5
based acetic acid are: Jubilant data on imports of acetic acid 2000-01 15,704 313.63 20.0
Organosys (formerly known as VAM into the country while Tables 7 2001-02 33,887 586.83 17.3
Organics), Somaiya Organics, Laxmi and 8 provide the data on ex- 2002-03 43,202 790.95 18.3
Organics and Industrial Organics. ports of acetic acid from India. 2003-04 27,030 530.00 19.7
2004-05 70,395 1,739.73 24.7
Production trend As can be observed from 2005-06 43,119 1,237.87 28.7
The production of acetic acid has Table 5, imports of acetic acid 2006-07 124,464 3,267.82 26.3
increased from 46.7-kt (kilotons) in have been increasing since 2007-08 136,423 3,614.86 26.5
1986-87 to 77.4-kt in 1990-91, register- 1994-95. Imports have increased
Source: DGCIS, Kolkata
ing a growth rate of 13.5 % during the from over 20-kt in 1994-95 to

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Table 6 Table 7
Imports of acetic acid – by country Exports of acetic acid
[Tons] [Quantity in tons; value in Rs. mn; and unit value in Rs/kg]

Country 2006-07 2007-08 Years Quantity Value Unit FOB Value

1996-97 15,082 323.65 21.46
Taiwan 5,579 — 1997-98 6,530 158.98 24.35
China 6,507 11,126 1998-99 2,536 77.05 30.37
Iran 9,295 15,879 1999-00 2,628 91.16 34.67
2000-01 5,752 170.49 29.63
Malaysia 22,373 14,239 2001-02 8,329 246.59 29.60
Singapore 73,296 91,401 2002-03 10,994 309.61 28.16
2003-04 11,882 337.39 28.40
UK 2,720 — 2004-05 15,230 555.12 36.45
USA 4,696 3,753 2005-06 13,073 521.83 39.92
2006-07 14,819 601.93 40.62
Total 124,464 136,423 2007-08 15,040 550.85 36.63
Source: DGCIS, Kolkata Source: DGCIS, Kolkata

Prior to 1995-96, exports of acetic

Table 8: Exports of acetic acid – by destination
acid were meagre in the range of few
hundred tons to a couple of thousand Country 2006-07 2007-08
tons. Exports were hindered during Quantity Value Quantity Value
this period due to lack of proper infra- Australia 414 47.01 97 3.41
structure and higher indigenous prices Bangladesh 3,780 143.01 3,050 109.64
Egypt 2,031 7.27 2,556 9.19
and lack of incentives. The exports Israel 195 6.83 264 9.74
picked up after the entry of GNFC as Kenya 190 7.06 186 6.92
Lebanon 200 7.33 340 6.79
they had an export obligation. Even Mauritius 378 139 454 1.65
today, majority of exports are made by Madagascar 160 6.02 160 5.82
GNFC only. Nepal 206 7.67 319 12.18
Philippines 1,562 5.41 2,595 9.09
Saudi Arabia 530 1.93 519 1.86
Exports were higher in 1996-97 at Sri Lanka 400 1.52 419 1.56
Syria 292 1.12 301 1.09
15,082-tons, but declined thereafter as UAE 1,093 3.90 1,131 3.95
GNFC had to cope up with rising do-
Total incl. others 14,819 601.93 15,040 550.85
mestic demand. Since last five years,
exports are in the range of 15,000-tons. Source: DGCIS, Kolkata

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 Special Report

The unit fob value realised from ex- there were controls on the interstate prices collapsing from Rs. 450 in first
ports was higher at around Rs. 30-34 movement of alcohol by individual quarter of 1995 to Rs. 250 and con-
per kg during the period 1998-2000, but states. In 1993, when the alcohol (and tinued to decline to a throwaway price
has been in the range of Rs. 28-29 per molasses) production were decon- of Rs. 50 by the end of the same year.
kg during the period 2000 to 2004. In trolled, the price of molasses sky-rock- During August 2004, the price of mo-
the 2005 to 2007 period, the export value eted to between Rs. 1,500-2,000 per lasses was ruling at Rs.5,500 per ton
increased to further to Rs. 40 per kg, tons. Prices subsequently sobered to ex-factory and Rs. 6,500 per ton was
before declining to Rs. 37 in 2007-08. around Rs. 1,100-1,500 per ton in 1994- the landed cost.
95. Since then, however, increasing
Export destinations are mainly sugarcane production led to increased The price of acetic acid in 1991 was
neighboring countries, Southeast Asia supplies of molasses, resulting in Rs. 11.50 per kg, which rose to Rs. 25
and the Middle East. per kg in 1993, dropped to Rs. 24 per-
Table 9 kg in 1995. In 1996, the average price
Merchant demand Price trend in acetic acid was around 18.50 per kg. In Septem-
During 1995-96, captive consump- [Rs per kg] ber 2004 prices ruled at around Rs. 48
tion constituted 35% of the total de- Period 2008 2007 per kg. basic.
mand, while merchant sales were 65%.
Jan 37.00 41.00
Even today the ratio is more or less Current demand
Feb 37.85 41.50
the same. Merchant sale is estimated Acetic acid finds application in
Mar 38.60 40.50
to be 40% and captive use 60%. wide spectrum of end-uses. However,
Apr 41.75 39.00
major applications in India are:
May 43.00 41.00
Prices Acetic anhydride;
Jun 48.00 41.00
The price of acetic acid based on Vinyl acetate monomer;
Jul 53.00 42.00
ethyl alcohol – produced by fermen- Purified terephthalic acid;
Aug 49.00 43.00
tation of molasses, which in turn, is a Organic esters such as ethyl and
Sep 44.00 43.00
by-product of the sugar industry, butyl acetate;
Oct 45.00 45.00
keeps fluctuating, as it depends on Diketene derivatives;
Nov 37.00 44.50
seasonal production of sugarcane. Monochloroacetic acid;
Dec 33.50 42.50
Moreover, till July 1993, the movement Camphor;
of alcohol and molasses was con- Prices are in Mumbai Market inclusive of Pharmaceuticals;
excise duty, exclusive of VAT for drum/
trolled by the government, as regards Textiles;
barrel packing
its distribution and prices. In addition, Others including rubber, pigments,

182 Chemical Weekly February 3, 2009

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pesticides, paper, leather, photo-
graphic chemicals etc.
Acetic anhydride
Acetic anhydride is used in the
manufacture of cellulose acetate,
drugs, dyes, pesticides, perfumery
chemicals etc.
In the early 90s, there were 12 units
in the country making acetic anhydride
with total capacity of around 68,000-
tpa. However, after it was put under
the Narcotics Act, restricting its move-
ment, a number of units stopped mak-
ing it. Today, there are only five units
having combined capacity of 75,600-
tpa.
The production of acetic anhydride
has increased from 13,600-tons in 1985-
86 to 32,500-tons in 1994-95 thereby
registering annual compound growth
rate of 10.2% during the period of l0
years. Production in the year 2000-01
was 30,200-tons and that in the year
2007-08 is estimated at 60,000-tons.
The consumption of acetic acid for
production of acetic anhydride during
2007-08 is estimated at 75,600-tons,
constituting 15% of the total con-
sumption.
Table 10
Acetic anhydride capacity in India
[tpa]
Units Capacity
Jubilant Organosys 38,400
Industrial Organics 12,000
Somaiya Organics 12,000
Gujarat Dyestuffs 10,000
Sanjivani SSK 3,200
Total 75,600
Vinyl acetate monomer (VAM)
Till recently, vinyl acetate mono-
mer was being produced by two com-
panies with a total capacity of 55,000-
tpa. These units were Jubilant
Chemical Weekly February 3, 2009
Organosys (VAM Organics) and Vinyl
Chemicals. The production of VAM
was 17,000-tons in 1989-90, which in-
creased to 23,700-tons in 1994-95, re-
gistering a growth rate of 6.8% during
the period. However, as of today, both
the units have stopped making VAM
as it was unviable against the cheaper
imports and entire requirements are
being imported.
Monochloroacetic acid (MCA)
MCA is a versatile product used
as an intermediate in number of chemi-
cals such as CMC, EDTA, NTA, 2:4-D,
trichloroacetyl chloride, cyanoacetic
acid, pesticides, dyes and pharmaceu-
ticals etc. There are ten units engaged
in making MCA with combined capa-
city estimated at 55,000-tpa. Produc-
tion has increased from 7,055-tons in
1985-86 to around 18,000-tons in 1995-
96, registering a growth rate of 9.8%
per annum during this period.
Production in the year 2007-08 is
estimated at 50,000-tons. Karnavati
Chemicals, Sree Rayalseema Alkalies,
Meridian Chembond are the major
units. The consumption of acetic acid
for this end-use is estimated at 33,000-
tons, constituting 7% of total con-
sumption.
Table 11
MCA capacity in India
[tpa]
Units Capacity
Meridian Chembond Ltd. 7,250
Karnavati Chemicals 16,000
Parul Chemicals 2,500
Gandhar Petrochemicals 2,500
Mutual Chemicals 1,500
Siddharth Chlorochem 1,800
Kalpana Chemicals 1,200
Reliance Cellulose 1,500
Sree Rayalseema Hi-strength
Hypo 2,400
Others 18,350
Total 55,000
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Special Report
Organic esters
Acetic acid is used in the prepara-
tion of various esters such as ethyl
acetate, butyl acetate, amyl acetate,
octyl acetic, isopropyl acetate etc.
However, out of this ethyl & butyl
acetate constitute a major share in the total
production. The total capacity for all es-
ters is estimated at around 230-kt, of which
ethyl acetate constitute 210-kt.
Ethyl acetate was being produced
by over a dozen companies few years
back. However, today only four com-
panies make 90% of the total produc-
tion (200-kt) and the remaining 10% is
produced by a few small scale compa-
nies. Around 25% of the ethyl acetate
produced is being exported.
Total production of all esters put
together is estimated at around 200-
kt, consuming around 140-kt of acetic
acid, constituting 28% of total acetic
acid consumption.
Table 12
Ethyl acetate capacity in India
[tpa]
Units Capacity
Laxmi Organics 32,000
Industrial Organics 33,000
Somaiya Organics 72,000
Jubilant Organosys 51,200
Sanjivani SSK 4,800
Others 17,000
Total 210,000
Camphor
Camphor & Allied Products Ltd.
and Dujodwala Resins & Terpens Ltd.
are the two units making camphor with
combined capacity of 7000-tpa. Pro-
duction during 1994-95 was 4,800-tons,
which went up to 6600-tons in the year
2003-04. In 2007-08, production is es-
timated at 6,400-tons.
Both the units combined consume
around 4,300-tons of acetic acid.
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 Special Report
Purified terephthalic acid (PTA)
Acetic acid is used as solvent in
the manufacture of PTA. Indigenous
production of PTA in India commenced
in the late eighties with Reliance In-
dustries Ltd. putting up a 200-ktpa
plant at Patalganga. Reliance later also
put up a plant for PTA at Hazira. To-
day, it has capacity of 2.050-mtpa.
MCC-PTA India Corp. P. Ltd., a
joint venture between Mitsubishi
Chemical (Japan) and West Bengal In-
dustrial Development Corp., put up a
plant for PTA at Haldia with capacity
of 350-ktpa in April 2000. The capa-
city of this plant has since gone up to
470-ktpa after debottlenecking.
Indian Oil Corporation is the third
PTA unit in the country with a plant at
Panipat with annual capacity of 553-
ktpa.
The total capacity in India for mak-
ing PTA is 3.073-mtpa.
Production of PTA rose from 151-
kt in 1990-91 to 257-kt in 1994-95 and
to 1,605-kt in 2003-04. Production in
2007-08 was 2,835-kt.
Consumption of acetic acid for this
184
end-use is estimated at 150-kt, consti-
tuting 30% of total consumption. The
consumption of acetic acid in this end-
use has undergone a significant change
due to technological innovations in the
manufacturing process. The consump-
tion levels of acetic acid have come down
from around 9% to around 5.6%.
Diketene
Diketene is an important interme-
diate used in the manufacture of
monomethyl aceto acetamide,
diethylacetoacetamide, ethyl aceto
acetate etc. Diketene is derived from
acetic acid. These derivatives are im-
portant intermediates for the pesti-
cides and the pigment industries.
Diketene is manufactured by Colour
Chem Ltd. and Avon Organics Ltd.
with combined capacity of 9,400-tpa
of diketene. Colour-Chem has capa-
city of 6,600-tpa, while Avon Organ-
ics has capacity of 2,800-tpa. Con-
sumption of acetic acid for this end-
use has dropped from 18,000-tons in
2003-04 to 10,100-tons in the year 2007-
08 due to decline in the production of
diketene derivatives facing stiff compe-
tition from cheaper Chinese products.
Textiles
Textiles processing industry is an-
184
other major user industry where ace-
tic acid is used to aid in dyeing, print-
ing, finishing and pre-treatment of fab-
rics. It is employed for natural as well
as synthetic fibers and the use de-
pends on the process employed.
Around 10,000-tons of acetic acid is
estimated to have been consumed by
various textile-processing mills in the
country.
Drugs & pharmaceuticals
Acetic acid is used in number of
bulk drugs such as chloroquin sul-
phate, sulphamethoxasole, trime-
thoprim, phenacetin, metronidazole,
ampicillin, chlorophenicol, phenoxy
acetic acid etc. This end-use sector
consumes around 33,000-tons of ace-
tic acid constituting 7% in total con-
sumption.
Dyes & intermediates
Acetic acid is used in many dyes
and dyes intermediates. The con-
sumption of acetic acid in this segment
is estimated to be in the region of
10,000-tons.
Other uses
Apart from the uses mentioned
above acetic acid is used in process-
ing of rubber, preservatives for food
Chemical Weekly February 3, 2009
 Special Report

is used in a variety of coating formu-

Table 13
lations such as epoxies, urethanes, cel-
Consumption pattern of acetic acid: 2003-04 & 2007-08
lulosics, acrylics and vinyls. Applica-
End-uses Consumption % share Consumption % Share tions for these coatings are numerous,
in 2003-04 in total in 2007-08 in total including wood furniture and fixtures,
Acetic Anhydride 32,500 10.5 75,600 15.0 agricultural, construction and mining
Vinyl Acetate Monomer 32,000 10.3 Nil 0.0 equipment, auto refinishing, and main-
Purified terephthalic acid 88,000 28.4 1,50,000 30.0 tenance and marine uses.
Organic Esters 65,000 21.0 1,40,000 28.0
Monochloroacetic acid 15,000 4.8 33,000 7.0 Ethyl acetate is also used as a sol-
Diketene 18,000 5.8 10,100 2.0 vent in inks for flexographic and roto-
Camphor 3,800 1.2 4,300 1.0 gravure printing, where its main func-
Pharmaceuticals 15,000 4.8 33,000 7.0 tion is to dissolve the resin, control
Textile processing 12,000 3.8 15,000 3.0 the viscosity and modify the drying
Dyes & Intermediates 12,000 3.8 15,000 3.0 rate. It is also used as an extraction
Misc. Uses 16,700 5.6 24,000 4.0 solvent in the production of pharma-
Total 3,10,000 100.0 500,000 100.0 ceuticals and food, and as a carrier
solvent for herbicides. High purity
processing, pesticides, pigments, paper, ducers of PTA with combined capa- product can be used as a viscosity
leather, photographic chemicals and so city of 3.07-mtpa. However, consider- reducer for resins used in photoresist
on. Consumption of acetic acid for other ing the prospects of the polyester in- formulations in the electronics indus-
uses is estimated at 16,700-tons. dustry in Indian and the global sce- try. Paint, inks and adhesives together
nario of PTA, further expansion in ca- constitute 31% of the total consump-
As can be observed from Table 12, pacities is likely to take place here in tion; flexible packaging and aluminium
the share of acetic anhydride, PTA, India. foils together constitute 34% and phar-
MCA and organic esters have gone up, maceuticals industry 18% and the bal-
while that of vinyl acetate monomer, The total demand for PTA in India is ance 17% is shared between chemical
diketene and other uses has come down. expected to go up from 2.8-mt in 2007-08 intermediates, electronics and miscel-
to 3.88-mt in 2011-12 and further to 4.95- laneous uses. While the paint indus-
Future Demand mt in 2014-2015 at CARG of 8.4%. try in India is expected to grow at
As far as future demand for acetic around 8 to 10% in the next few years,
acid is concerned, the major factor in- The other major drivers for acetic flexible packaging industry is expected
fluencing the demand would be the acid demand would be growth in the to grow at over 15% per annum.
development in the PTA industry, organic esters, particularly ethyl
which in turn depends on the polyes- acetate and pharmaceuticals segment The overall demand for acetic acid
ter industry. that are enjoying good growth. The is expected to grow at around 8.5% per
other segments like MCA, VAM, etc. annum in the next five years. Accord-
Today, Reliance, Mitsubishi (MCC- are mature and not much growth is ex- ingly, the demand is projected to be
PTA India) and IOC are the only pro- pected from these areas. Ethyl acetate around 750-kt by the year 2012-13.

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