Tosoh converting recovered CO2 into urethane feedstock

Tokyo – Tosoh Corp. has announced the start-up a new CO2 capture and feedstock conversion facility at its Nanyo complex in Shunan City, Yamaguchi prefecture.

The facility uses recovered CO2 to produce the raw material carbon monoxide (CO) for Tosoh’s isocyanate products, said the company which formerly produced CO solely from naphtha.

The facility, employs Tosoh’s proprietary technology to recover CO2 from combustion gases generated during the company’s production of CO, explained the 14 Nov statement.

The conversion unit then uses that recovered CO2 in the production of CO feedstock for the manufacture of isocyanates, including methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI).

The facility’s annual CO2 recovery capacity of around 40 kilotonnes will "significantly reduce" Tosoh’s reliance on naphtha for CO production, said the release.

A “highly durable” CO2 recovery amine developed by Tosoh “is central to the facility’s success,” said the group, which aims to further leverage the commercial potential of the proprietary agent.