Lotte Chemical jumps into production of materials for electric vehicle batteries

[Courtesy of Lotte Chemical]

SEOUL -- Lotte Chemical, a major chemical company based in South Korea, jumped into the production of materials for electric vehicle batteries through the production of electrolyte organic solvents, based on high-purity ethylene oxide facilities. Organic solvents account for about 30 percent of electrolytes, but South Korea is heavily dependent on imports.

Lotte Chemical said that its board endorsed the proposed spending of 210 billion won ($185 million) on the construction of a plant by the second half of 2023 that would produce electrolyte organic solvents such as ethylene carbonate and dimethyl carbonate. Organic solvents help lithium ions move smoothly between anode and cathode.

In a separate deal announced on May 20, Air Liquide, a French supplier of industrial gases and services, tied up with Lotte Chemical to jointly establish a high-pressure hydrogen shipping center and hydrogen charging stations by utilizing byproduct hydrogen. They would invest in liquefied hydrogen production and cooperate in acquiring high-pressure hydrogen tank technology.

Lotte Chemical is producing low carbon byproduct hydrogen at three domestic production bases. It would apply carbon capture utilization (CCU) technology to its plant in the southern city of Yeosu. In April, Lotte Chemical introduced carbon capture utilization technology by using gas separation membranes to increase the purity of captured carbon dioxide and change it to essential industrial materials.

Lim Chang-won cwlim34@ajunews.com

Lotte Chemical jumps into production of materials for electric vehicle batteries

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