Page 168 - CW E-Magazine (18-3-2025)

News from Abroad

EXPANDING PRESENCE
Draslovka to supply Prussian blue for use in Natron

Energy’s sodium-ion batteries

Draslovka, a chemical firm based Through its exclusive partnership
in the Czech Republic and the world’s with Natron, Draslovka’s chemistry
largest producer of sodium cyanide, has will directly assist in the development
inked a R&D partnership agreement of Natron’s supply chain without reli-
with Natron Energy, a US manufacturer ance on critical minerals from high-risk
of sodium-ion batteries, to advance the or potentially unstable jurisdictions.
development, commercialisation and
large-scale production of high-quality age Draslovka’s expertise in supplying Mr. Pavel Bruzek, CEO of Draslovka,
Prussian blue material required for high-quality Prussian blue materials that commented, “We are excited to partner
Natron’s proprietary sodium-ion bat- are crucial for Natron’s sodium-ion bat- with Natron on this project which aims
tery technologies. tery design, which is ideal for short-term to promote greater standards for sustain
energy storage applications, such as data ability and help pioneer sodium-ion batte-
The partnership agreement envis- centres. The facility will serve as a blue- ries as a real, economically viable option
ages a layered scope of co-operation print to expand Draslovka’s operations for energy storage, especially short-term
across Draslovka’s areas of expertise, in the US and enable Natron’s mission energy reserves and data centres. While
fully utilising the company’s research, of scaling sodium-ion battery produc- today we are announcing a new plant at
production and logistics capabilities on tion to meet soaring demand, with the our EU location, we are already consi-
both sides of the Atlantic. Taking advan- development of a large-scale facility dering concrete options to build capability
tage of the immediately available infra- expected to begin prior to the completion in the US. Additionally, we are evaluating
structure offered by its chemical plant of the reference facility in Kolin. opportunities for new production plants
in Kolin, Czech Republic, Draslovka elsewhere in the US to fully capitalise on
has obtained the necessary permits and Starting in 2026, the new Kolin the home-grown technological expertise
has begun designing and constructing facility is expected to supply Natron with we have at our flagship plant and as
a new reference production facility for Prussian blue materials to double further demand for sodium-ion batteries
the project. The partnership will lever- Natron’s battery manufacturing capacity. is unlocked.
CIRCULAR ECONOMY PRODUCTS
Sumitomo Chemical begins selling chemically

recycled acrylic resin

Japan’s Sumitomo Chemical will pilot facility for the chemical recycling as the ISCC PLUS certification, and is
begin selling its polymethyl meth- of PMMA at its Ehime Works located in making efforts to globally implement-
acrylate (PMMA) made from methyl Niihama City, Ehime Prefecture, Japan. ing practical recycling systems using
methacrylate (MMA) monomer pro- It has also implemented initiatives such the mass balance approach. Sumitomo
duced through chemical recycling. as a joint project with Niihama City to Chemical said it will provide its chemi-
recycle PMMA protective partition cally recycled PMMA produced in mass
LG Display of South Korea and panels, which are used for reducing the production facilities for applications that
Nissan Motor of Japan have decided to spread of droplets, in the area, as well require high quality, such as electronics
use this chemically-recycled material as providing its chemically-recycled and automotives. The company will start
for their products. Sumitomo Chemical PMMA as raw material for the acrylic selling the product to LG Display as raw
will accelerate the implementation of jewellery sold by Star Jewellery Co. Ltd. material for light guide plates used in
chemical recycling in the MMA supply backlight units for liquid crystal displays
chain as an industry leader. In 2022, In addition, Sumitomo Chemical has and to Nissan Motor as raw material for
Sumitomo Chemical constructed a new received third-party certifications, such lenses used in vehicle headlights.

168 Chemical Weekly March 18, 2025

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