Jiangsu Sailboat Petrochemical (Sailboat) has begun commercial operations at a new plant in Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province, China, using carbon dioxide (CO2) as a primary feedstock.
Operational since November 2024, the facility produces high-purity ethylene carbonate (EC) and dimethyl carbonate (DMC), which are critical components for lithium-ion battery electrolytes. The production process relies on technology licensed from Asahi Kasei, a Japanese chemical company recognised for its innovations in CO2-based manufacturing.
Ethylene carbonate and dimethyl carbonate play a vital role in lithium-ion batteries, which are increasingly in demand due to the global growth of electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage systems (ESS) tied to renewable energy adoption. By using CO2 as a raw material, the plant contributes to ongoing efforts to lower the carbon footprint of manufacturing processes while meeting the rising demand for sustainable materials.
With an annual capacity of 38,000 tonnes of high-purity EC and 70,000 tonnes of high-purity DMC, the plant is designed to utilise 54,000 tonnes of CO2 each year. This facility adds to the approximately 300,000 tonnes of CO2 processed annually by Asahi Kasei’s licensees, which include applications in polycarbonate resins and other carbonates.
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