AkzoNobel and Atul Limited sign a letter of intent to explore the feasibility of setting up a manufacturing joint venture for the production of monochloroacetic acid (MCA) in India. The two companies plan to install a world scale MCA plant at Atul's facility in Gujarat, subject to the necessary regulatory approvals. Atul is a supplier of crop protection chemicals (which use MCA as a key raw material). AkzoNobel has plants in the Netherlands, China, Japan and the United States.

The intended joint venture will use chlorine and hydrogen manufactured by Atul to produce MCA, taking advantage of Atul's existing infrastructure and AkzoNobel's hydrogenation technology, according to the AkzoNobel. The proposed facility will mainly serve the Indian MCA market and meet the captive requirements of Atul.

MCA is is used in a wide variety of chemicals. AkzoNobel's customers use MCA to produce thickening agents for the food, oil, mining, personal care and detergent industries. The product is also used in agrochemicals, adhesives, pharmaceuticals, thermo stabilizers, surfactants and cosmetics.

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