Mitsubishi Chemical To Make Electrolyte Material

The Nikkei Daily reports that Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. has outfitted its Kashima plant with equipment to produce ethylene carbonate, one of the electrolyte materials that determine the longevity and output of lithium-ion batteries. Beginning this month the plant will produce up to 2,000 tons of the material per year.

The equipment will use proprietary technology to produce ethylene carbonate from ethylene glycol to yield a higher-grade product than is customary. The improved ethylene carbonate should help boost battery performance.

Mitsubishi Chemical produces electrolytes at its Yokkaichi plant and has expanded capacity there by 50% to 6,000 tons per year.