The global economic downturn, particularly the collapse of the automotive and associated industries, has caused an overall reduction in the demand for acrylonitrile. Since acetonitrile is obtained as a co-product in the production of acrylonitrile, the pharmaceutical, food, environmental, and chemical industries are experiencing an unprecedented acetonitrile shortage. This shortage has resulted in a sharp price increase, in some cases as much as 6-8 times; and the price is projected to remain high even after the production returns to normal.
Best of the Week: Food Analysis, Chemical Migration in Plastic Bottles, STEM Researcher of the Year
December 20th 2024Top articles published this week include the launch of our “From Lab to Table” content series, a Q&A interview about using liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC–HRMS) to assess chemical hazards in plastic bottles, and a piece recognizing Brett Paull for being named Tasmanian STEM Researcher of the Year.