Denka cancels project to mass-produce low-carbon acetylene

Tokyo, Japan – Under a joint development agreement with the US-based startup company Transform Materials LLC, Denka Company Limited has been developing a technology to mass-produce low-carbon acetylene. This technology involves using microwave plasma to produce acetylene and hydrogen from methane, aiming to reduce carbon emissions during the production of acetylene, a raw material used in chloroprene rubber and acetylene black.

However, due to the dissolution of Transform Materials, Denka has decided to discontinue this development project. Despite this setback, Denka remains committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Reducing CO2 emissions in the acetylene chain is a crucial aspect of this goal, and Denka will continue to develop new technologies for the production of low-carbon acetylene and work towards reducing CO2 emissions in the future.

Additionally, the development using Transform Materials’ technology had been certified under METI’s Plan to Secure and Stable Supply of Storage Batteries. This certification has now been revoked due to the aforementioned reasons.

The impact of these changes on Denka’s consolidated financial results for the fiscal years ending in March 2025 and March 2026 will be insignificant. Denka Company Limited will continue to contribute to people’s daily lives and society by applying its world-class chemistry expertise, in line with the Purpose of Mission 2030: “Make the world a better place as specialists in chemistry.”