Developed new synthetic nylon raw materials technology

The Supercritical Fluid Research Center of the Japan Research Institute of Industrial Technology and Technology recently developed a technology for efficiently synthesizing nylon raw materials such as cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone from phenol with high efficiency and low cost using supercritical carbon dioxide solvent and a carrier hydrazine catalyst.
Currently cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone are produced by the partial oxidation of benzene to obtain cyclohexene and then cyclohexane or air oxidation, but the use of new synthesis methods can eliminate the use of organic compounds. The solvent reacts under mild reaction conditions. Because of its mild reaction conditions, the catalyst does not deteriorate, and carbon dioxide can be easily recovered and reused, which can significantly reduce the burden on the environment.
Market analysts pointed out that the global demand for nylon resins and polyurethane resins is increasing, but the shortage of raw materials hinders their development. If new production processes can be applied, raw material problems can be solved and the demand will be further expanded.