Global Acetonitrile Shortage
Posted on Tue, Mar 03, 2009 @ 02:00 PM
by Matt Bedford, Life Sciences ChemistYes, it's true, we are in the midst of a worldwide acetonitrile (ACN) shortage. Supplies of acetonitrile are at an all time low and the situation is not predicted to get better until well into 2009.
There have been several factors attributed to this global shortage. Acetonitrile is a by-product from the production of acrylonitrile. Acrylonitrile is an important raw material used in the process of making plastics. One factor that may account for there being less ACN around is a slight general decline in demand for plastics. This alone cannot account for the drastic shortages. Two of the world's largest manufactures of ACN are based in Texas and China. The plant in Texas was recently hit by hurricane Ike temporarily closing it down for repair while the facility in China was ordered to halt production leading up to and during the Olympic games.
Two well known chemical suppliers have posted open letters informing customers of the shortage, price increases and that new customers may not be able to order any ACN at all. Currently 1L of ACN from Fisher costs $230. Compare this to 1L of HPLC grade methanol at $57.
As researchers begin to use alternative solvents will this affect the profiles we have created for consistent waste streams? And, if ACN is bought in bulk, could this affect a sites flammable materials permit?