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Acetic anhydride is a colorless mobile liquid with a pungent odor and strong
lachrymatory properties. In the United States, the major portion of acetic
anhydride consumption is captive by producers of cellulose acetate and related
products. Much of the acetic anhydride is produced from recovered acetic acid
from cellulose acetate operations. In Europe, most acetic anhydride is consumed
in cellulose acetate production; tetraacetylethylenediamine (TAED) is also
a significant consumer of acetic anhydride.
In 2006, the United States continued to be the leading producer and consumer
of acetic anhydride, mainly for cellulose acetate production. From 2001 to
2004, U.S. consumption of acetic anhydride had been steadily declining as a
result of lower domestic production and consumption of cellulose acetate flake.
However, in 2005, U.S. cellulose acetate flake production increased significantly
as a result of increased foreign demand, primarily from China. This resulted
in increasing acetic anhydride consumption for cellulose acetate flake production.
Similarly, in Western Europe, acetic anhydride consumption had been declining
from 2001 to 2004 and 2005, when cellulose acetate flake exports to Eastern
Europe and China increased. Japan has experienced stable growth (1–2%
per year) since 2002 while China has increased significantly at 7–8%
per year since 2002 because of increased demand for cellulose acetate products.
The following pie chart shows consumption of acetic anhydride by major region:
Cellulose acetate flake is the major consumer of acetic anhydride and will
continue to be so in the coming years. Cellulose acetates are in mature markets
and declines have occurred in recent years, with the exception of such major
regions as China and Central and Eastern Europe. China imports very large quantities
of cellulose acetate tow from the United States, Canada and Japan. These Chinese
imports have stabilized the decline in acetic anhydride consumption in these
export countries and have even led to increases. In time, China will establish
domestic production and may terminate or reduce imports of this acetic anhydride
consumer.
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