Adipic Acid
Adipic acid is the highest volume aliphatic dicarboxylic acid in production. Global production in 2008 was 2329ktes. Adipic acid is a derivative of benzene with 91% being produced via cyclohexane and the majority of the balance from phenol. The main application for adipic acid remains as a co-monomer for nylon 66 production (with HMDA) which represents 61% of global consumption. The remaining 39% is consumed in a wide variety of other applications including polyurethanes, plasticisers, unsaturated polyester resins, wet strength paper resins, coatings, synthetic lubricants and food additives.
Demand for adipic acid continues to grow around 2% CAGR (2000-2020) with non-nylon applications growing faster than the nylon sector.