History and Production of Furfural Derivatives Industry
Furfural is an organic compound produced as a byproduct of the processing of lignocellulosic biomass like agriculture residues and wood pulps. Chemically, it is a heterocyclic aldehyde with the formula C5H4O2. Furfural was first synthesized in 1821 by Johann Wolfgang Döbereiner through the acid-catalyzed decomposition of sugar cane bagasse. Nowadays, furfural is produced on an industrial scale through the Quaker batch process where lignocellulosic biomass is treated with aqueous sulfuric acid at high temperature under pressure. The typical reactions involved are acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of carbohydrates followed by dehydration of pentoses like xylose at temperatures between 150-220°C. Worldwide production capacity of furfural is estimated to be around 500,000 tons per year with China being the leading manufacturer.
Applications of Furfural and Derivatives
Furfural finds multiple industrial applications. It acts as a selective solvent and can separate aromatics from lighter petroleum fractions through extractive distillation. Furfural is also used as a chemical intermediate in the production of other chemicals like furan, tetrahydrofuran and furoic acid. Some major derivatives of furfural produced on a commercial scale are furfuryl alcohol, furan resins and furanic aldehyde resin. Furfuryl alcohol is used to modify other resins and as a solvent. Furan resins produced from furfural find applications as wood adhesives in plywood, laminates and fiberboard manufacturing industries. Furanic aldehyde resins are thermosetting polymers with excellent corrosion resistance and heat stability used to coat wires. Other niche applications of furfural derivatives include use as intermediates in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, food additives and corrosion inhibitors.
Dynamics and Trends
The global furfural Industry value in 2019 is estimated at US$ 470 million according to credible sources. Asia Pacific currently dominates global furfural production and consumption led by China. However, regulatory initiatives targeting production capacity reductions and environmental compliance in China are shifting some capacity to other regions like the USA and Europe. The Global Furfural Derivatives exhibits slightly higher growth rates compared to the furfural and is projected to expand at 3.5-4% CAGR during 2019-2024. Growth is expected to be driven by the expanding industrial applications of furfural derivatives in resins, solvents, food and pharma sectors supported by the rising bio-based chemicals industry. Efforts to produce furfural from non-food biomass like corn cobs and forestry/agricultural waste using improved production technologies also provide an impetus. However, fluctuations in furfural prices due to variability in biomass feedstock costs acts as a restraint.
Furfural Derivatives Industry Analysis
Among furfural derivatives, furan resins constitute one of the major product segments accounting for over 30% of the total currently. The global furan resin was valued at US$ 150 million in 2018 and is projected to grow at around 4% CAGR during 2019-2024. Asia Pacific including countries such as China, Japan and India dominates both production and demand for furan resins. The growing industrial infrastructure like plywood and laminates manufacturing facilitated by the expanding construction activity in developing Asia economies spurs regional resin consumption. North America and Western Europe also provide significant growth opportunities for furan resins driven by the industrial demand for adhesives and coatings used in industries like marine, wind and infrastructure. However, growing environmental regulations regarding formaldehyde emissions from resins as well as volatility in furfural prices remain as challenges for the . Ongoing R&D into novel resin formulations to develop formaldehyde-free products provides opportunities going forward.
Furfuryl Alcohol Industry Overview
Furfuryl alcohol is the most commercially important furfural derivative with a global production capacity of over 300,000 metric tons per year. It finds diverse applications as a chemical intermediate, solvent, resin modifier and corrosion resistant coating. The furfuryl alcohol was valued at US$ 550 million in 2018 and is projected to grow at nearly 4% during the forecast period. Over 40% of furfuryl alcohol is consumed in the production of corrosion resistant foundry binders for casting of iron, steel and aluminum. Other major end-uses include manufacturing of synthetic resins for wood adhesives, laminates and fiber-reinforced composites. The industrial and construction boom in emerging nations of Asia and South America supports regional demand growth for furfuryl alcohol. Ongoing research has led to the development of furan-based thermoset polymers with improved properties eliminating the need for formaldehyde in several applications. The applications of furfuryl alcohol are also expanding into new s like carbon fiber precursors.
Furfural Outlook by Region
China: China accounts for over 50% of global furfural production capacity led by top producers like Xingtai Chunyu, Hebei Xingtai and Central Romana. However, capacity reductions of 30-40% are expected in China over 2019-2023 to comply with environmental norms. This provides opportunities for capacity increases in other regions.
United States: U.S. based companies like Pennakem, LLC and Central Romana are expanding furfural capacities by constructing plants near corn ethanol facilities for leveraging the availability of bio-based feedstock. Growth projected at around 4-5% during 2019-2024 period.
Europe: Key European furfural producers include Arco Chemical, Illovo Sugar Europe and Trans Furans Chemicals. The region demands around 80,000 tons annually mainly driven by resins, solvents and other chemical applications. Growth expected to reach 3-4% mark during forecast period.
Asia Pacific (Excluding China): Countries like India, Japan, Indonesia and Malaysia provide promising high growth s for furfural driven by the expanding construction and manufacturing industries. Strong projected CAGR of 5-6% for the region.
the growing demand for bio-based chemicals and the shift towards sustainable manufacturing processes are also driving the growth of the furfural derivatives . Furfural derivatives are derived from renewable biomass, making them an attractive alternative to petroleum-based chemicals.
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Ravina Pandya, Content Writer, has a strong foothold in the market research industry. She specializes in writing well-researched articles from different industries, including food and beverages, information and technology, healthcare, chemical and materials, etc. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ravina-pandya-1a3984191)
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