Recent Breakthroughs and Developments in the Field of Adiponitrile

Adiponitrile is a core raw material for the production of nylon 66, and its production technology has long been monopolized by foreign countries. Recently, significant breakthroughs have been made domestically in this field.

In addition to project commissioning, technological advancements and industry certifications are also important highlights in the near term.

The "Butadiene Direct Cyanation Adiponitrile Technology" independently developed by China National Chemical Tianchen Company has been successfully selected as a promotion project in the "2025 Science and Technology Guidance Plan" released by the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation. This marks that the advancement and feasibility of this technology have been recognized by industry authorities, paving the way for its large-scale promotion and application.

Wanhua Chemical has taken an alternative approach with its newly acquired invention patent, which employs an electrolysis process for the preparation of adiponitrile. This process involves adding acrylonitrile, ionic liquid, and water into an electrolytic cell, where a reduction reaction at the cathode generates adiponitrile. The core innovation lies in the design of the cathode material, which features a three-layer composite structure comprising a substrate, an intermediate layer, and a surface layer, aiming to improve reaction efficiency and potentially reduce energy consumption. Wanhua Chemical defines its advantages as "green and efficient," aiming to address issues such as the complexity of current production processes, difficulties in product separation, and high safety risks.

Recent developments in the field of adiponitrile reflect the following trends and impacts:

1. Diversified Technological Approaches: Currently, the industrialization of adiponitrile in China is characterized by the parallel development and breakthroughs of multiple technological routes, such as direct butadiene cyanation/hydrocyanation (e.g., Tianchen, Ruizhi Group/Zhejiang Zhiying) and the electrolysis method (e.g., Wanhua Chemical). Which technology will ultimately prevail in terms of cost and efficiency remains to be tested by the market and time.

2. Breaking the Monopoly and Achieving Self-Sufficiency: Adiponitrile was once a typical “bottleneck” product in China. The successful commissioning and technological advancement of these domestic projects signify significant progress in China’s independent supply capacity of adiponitrile, which is of great importance for the security and stability of the downstream high-end material industry chain, such as nylon 66.

3. Market competition will intensify: With the planning and implementation of several large-scale projects, the domestic production capacity of adiponitrile will increase significantly in the future. Although this may lead to more intense market competition, it means more choices and lower costs for downstream users.

4. Promoting the development of high-end materials: The stable supply of adiponitrile is fundamental to the development of the nylon 66 industrial chain. Nylon 66, due to its excellent heat resistance, tensile strength, and wear resistance, is widely used in the automotive industry (especially in the lightweighting of new energy vehicles), electronics and electrical appliances, specialty apparel, and other fields. The breakthrough in domestic adiponitrile production will strongly support the development of these downstream industries.