The completed facility will boost its production capacity by 400 tons/year to 1,200 tons, equivalent to 150% of current capacity of leaf alcohol.
Leaf alcohol, also called "green alcohol," is widely used for food flavorings in juices, candy, and ice cream as well as green aromas for such products as perfume, shampoo, and soap. ZEON's facility enhancement is intended to meet a rapidly increasing demand for aromas, especially in East Asia whose market experience significant economic growth.
ZEON's Specialty Chemicals Business comprises synthetic aroma chemicals, special solvents, and intermediates for medicines and agricultural chemicals, all of which are developed using ZEON's unique C5 raw materials and based on its proprietary synthesis technology. This business plays an important role in the comprehensive use of C5 fraction as a raw material, an exclusive domain of ZEON worldwide. ZEON manufactures these products at the Mizushima Plant and the Yonezawa Plant of ZEON Chemicals Yonezawa Co., Ltd. ZEON also focused on new product development in its R&D facility for specialty chemicals that was constructed in ZEON chemicals Yonezawa in April this year.
Supplementary Explanation
ZEON's Specialty Chemicals Division commenced operations when ZEON entered the synthetic aroma chemicals market in the 1980s. The division subsequently expanded into the fine chemicals business by adding various intermediates for medicines and agricultural chemicals and special solvents to its product lines.
Today, the main products in the Specialty Chemicals business are synthetic aroma chemicals, particularly green and jasmine aromas, which are used in materials for perfumes, soaps, and shampoos. ZEON commands more than half of the global market for leaf alcohol, the most popular of the green aromas, marked as the world leader in this area. In the market for methyl-dihydrojasmonate, generally used in jasmine products, ZEON Group holds the world's second largest market share.
Today, the main products in the Specialty Chemicals business are synthetic aroma chemicals, particularly green and jasmine aromas, which are used in materials for perfumes, soaps, and shampoos. ZEON commands more than half of the global market for leaf alcohol, the most popular of the green aromas, marked as the world leader in this area. In the market for methyl-dihydrojasmonate, generally used in jasmine products, ZEON Group holds the world's second largest market share.
