Page 170 - CW E-Magazine (18-3-2025)

News from Abroad

SOLID STATE BATTERIES
Idemitsu Kosan plans new facility for lithium

sulphide in Japan

Japan’s oil refiner and chemicals
firm, Idemitsu Kosan, has unveiled
plans to construct a large-scale lithium
sulphide production plant in Chiba,
near Tokyo.

According to the company, the plant
will produce about 1,000 tons of lithium
sulphide per year, starting in June 2027.
The precursor is needed for electrolytes
that will be used in the mass production
of all-solid-state lithium-ion rechargea-
ble batteries.

Solid-state batteries are touted
as crucial for longer-lasting, safer,
and more affordable electric vehicles Idemitsu’s lithium sulphide production building a large-scale pilot factory for
(EVs). Compared to conventional is expected to be sufficient for a bat- solid electrolyte in the fiscal year 2025.
liquid batteries, all-solid-state batteries tery capacity of approximately 3-giga-
have a solid electrolyte, which allows watt-hours per year. The total invest The project builds on Idemitsu’s
ions to move faster. Therefore, EVs ment is equivalent to approximately partnership with Toyota Motor to com-
equipped with all-solid-state batter- $143-mn of which the Japanese govern- mercialise next generation batteries and
ies are expected to have the potential ment may provide up to $48-mn in support the automaker’s goal of launch-
to further reduce charging time and subsidies. ing electric vehicles with all-solid-state
increase power output. In addition, batteries by 2027-2028. Idemitsu plans
because they are resistant to high voltage Idemitsu’s goal is to build an inte- to supply solid electrolyte to Toyota
and high temperature, all-solid-state grated supply chain from raw materials first, expanding to other customers later.
batteries are expected to improve to finished electrolytes. Idemitsu plans The company is currently developing
energy density and lengthen service life. to make a final investment decision on two different types of solid electrolytes.
Brenntag to distribute PureTech’s cosmetic-grade

glycolic acid in North America

PureTech Scientific, a US-based of the legacy DuPont Glycolic Acid B&PC Sr. Director Personal Care
producer of ultra-high purity glycolic Division, manufacturers glycolic acid Americas stated, “The Glypure pro-
acid, has announced the appointment products in the US from raw materi- ducts are the industry standard of
of Brenntag Beauty & Personal Care als sourced exclusively from North high purity glycolic acid for the beau-
Group to its North American distribu- America. According to the company, ty and personal care industry. We
tion network for the line of Glypure Glypure active ingredients are pro- are especially excited with their new
branded glycolic acid-based products. duced using a purification process launch, Glypure 70 Ultra, which is
Brenntag will be an authorised distri- and offer formulation versatility to a an ultra-high-purity glycolic that is
butor for all Glypure products covering wide range of skin and hair care formaldehyde-free and dichloroacetic
US, Canada and Mexico. applications. acid-free that offers true innovation to
consumers that are looking for a safe
PureTech Scientific, a carve-out Ms. Maia Navarrete, Brenntag and effective product.”

170 Chemical Weekly March 18, 2025

Contents Index to Advertisers Index to Products Advertised