News
Zeon Corporation receives Special Technology Prize
Highly recognized for developing a groundbreaking manufacturing method for Cyclopentanone
Zeon Corporation (Zeon; head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Tetsuya Toyoshima) has won the Special Technology Prize at the 56th JCIA Technology Awards, sponsored by the Japan Chemical Industry Association (JCIA). The JCIA Technology Award program recognizes businesses that have contributed to advancing the chemical industry as well as the economy and society by developing and commercializing superior chemical technologies. The program consists of three prizes: the Grand Prize, the Special Technology Prize, and the Environmental Technology Prize. The Special Technology Prize awarded to Zeon is given for an original or improved technology that, even if small in scale, excels in originality and technology. This is the first time Zeon has received a JCIA Technology Award since winning the Environmental Technology Prize at the 32nd JCIA Technology Awards.
Zeon received this latest award for developing a new and innovative manufacturing method for Cyclopentanone and creating business for five-membered ring compounds. The company was highly recognized for using dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) extracted from C5 fractions as the starting material for this method, which has advanced the chemical industry through the development, manufacture, and sale of associated products.
Cyclopentanone is a key product of Zeon’s comprehensive C5 business, contributing significantly to its competitive strength. Derived from DCPD found in C5 fractions as its main raw material, Cyclopentanone is widely used as a semiconductor solvent and a key ingredient in synthetic fragrances, owing to its high solubility and excellent drying and recovery properties. The awarded manufacturing method, developed in 2004, not only yields higher outputs of Cyclopentanone compared to conventional methods but also ensures an exceptionally clean process with minimal CO2 emissions.
Properties of Cyclopentanone
- Purity: Minimum 99%
- Cleaning agent based on a single substance with a low boiling point and excellent drying and recovery properties
- Can be recycled, and easily managed as a fluid
- Good biodegradability and low toxicity
Cyclopentyl methyl ether (CPME), developed by Zeon using Cyclopentene, also serves as an intermediate raw material in the new production process for Cyclopentanone. CPME has been successfully commercialized and widely adopted as a solvent for pharmaceutical manufacturing and various other applications. Its high hydrophobicity and high boiling point make it a safe choice for industries requiring such properties.
Zeon is honored to receive this prestigious award for its efforts in developing the new manufacturing method and establishing business for five-membered ring compounds through this innovative process. This initiative had been recognized as an outstanding contribution to industrial progress, particularly in areas such as semiconductors, fragrances, and pharmaceutical manufacturing. The company remains committed to advancing original technologies that enhance safety and comfort in daily life.
For more information, contact:
Department of Corporate Communications, Corporate Sustainability Division, Zeon Corporation
Phone: +81-3-3216-2747