2-Imidazolidinone (ethylene urea) is in strong demand in the field of aldehyde removal, and my country’s industry concentration needs to be improved

​​ 2-Imidazolidinone, also known as vinylurea, 2-imidazolone, cyclovinylurea, cyclovinylideneurea, has a molecular formula of C3H6N2O and is an organic compound. 2-Imidazolidinone appears as colorless needle-like crystals with no special odor. It is soluble in hot ethanol and water, but insoluble in ether. 2-Imidazolidinone has excellent properties and is widely used in many fields such as synthetic resins, textiles, and medicine.

The main raw materials of 2-imidazolidinone are ethylenediamine and carbon dioxide. Ethylenediamine (EDA) is a typical fatty diamine with the characteristics of primary and secondary amines. It is a common fine chemical intermediate and important chemical raw material. my country’s ethylenediamine output has maintained a long-term growth trend. In 2022, my country’s ethylenediamine output will reach 68,000 tons, setting a record high. However, currently, due to factors such as high technical barriers and high production costs, my country’s ethylenediamine production and quality cannot meet downstream demand, and the products are highly dependent on imports, which brings certain challenges to the development of my country’s 2-imidazolidinone industry.

​ ​ 2-Imidazolidinone is widely used in synthetic resins, textiles, medicine and other fields. In the field of synthetic resins, 2-imidazolidinone can be used as a cross-linking agent to achieve cross-linking and modification of resin; in the field of textiles, 2-imidazolidinone can be used as an anti-tear finishing agent, anti-wrinkle finishing agent for fabrics, etc. ; In the pharmaceutical field, 2-imidazolidinone can be used as an intermediate for antibiotics and anti-schistosomiasis drugs. Benefiting from the accelerated development of the downstream industry, the market demand for 2-imidazolidinone will further grow.

According to the “2023-2028 China 2-imidazolidinone (ethylene urea) industry market in-depth research and development prospect forecast report》shows that the aldehyde removal field is the largest demand end for 2-imidazolidinone. As COVID-19 policies are gradually relaxed, demand in my country’s home decoration market is gradually picking up. Artificial boards, wall decoration materials, and construction accessories can easily produce formaldehyde, causing pollution to the environment and harming human health. 2-Imidazolidinone is the main component of high-efficiency aldehyde removers. As the demand for aldehyde removal increases, my country’s 2-imidazolidinone market space will further expand.

The main players in my country’s 2-imidazolidinone market include Shandong Zhuosheng Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Hebei Kangzhuang Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd., Zhejiang Suichang Limin Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Jining Jinyin Chemical Co., Ltd., etc. The concentration of my country’s 2-imidazolidinone industry is low, and the market is dominated by small and medium-sized enterprises. The products have problems such as serious homogeneity and uneven quality.

Industry analysts said that 2-imidazolidinone, as a fine chemical and pharmaceutical intermediate, has a wide range of uses, and the development of the industry is accelerating. . However, currently, due to factors such as insufficient supply of raw materials and high technical barriers to high-end products, my country’s mid- to low-end 2-imidazolidinone market accounts for a relatively high proportion, and the high-end competitiveness of local enterprises needs to be improved. It is expected that in the future, with in-depth research and technological progress, my country’s high-end 2-imidazolidinone market space will further expand.