Union Showa (USKK), a joint venture (JV) between Showa Denko K.K. (SDK; Tokyo, Japan; www.sdk.co.jp) and UOP LLC (Des Plaines, Ill.; www.uop.com) has completed the construction of a new high-silica zeolite plant within the premises of SDK’s Higashinagahara Plant in Aizu-Wakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, and will start operation of the new plant during December.
High-silica zeolite is an adsorbent that has an improved hydrophobic nature due to its higher silica content compared with ordinary synthetic zeolite, preferably adsorbing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and odorants before moisture. By blending with plastics and fibers, the material is used in such applications as deodorization, gas adsorption, removal of toxic VOCs, refining of biogases and sterilization of ballast water of vessels before discharging. Demand for high silica zeolite is growing for these applications.
High-silica zeolite has been in tight supply, reflecting a growing demand on a global scale. In Japan and other Asian countries, in particular, demand is expected to grow further. USKK has thus far been importing high-silica zeolite from UOP’s plant in Mobile, Alabama for sale in the Japanese market.