The impact of COVID-19 pandemic can be felt across the chemical industry. The growing inability in the production and manufacturing processes, in the light of the self-quarantined workforce has caused a major disruption in the supply chain across the sector. Restrictions encouraged by this pandemic are obstructing the production of essentials such as life-saving drugs.

The nature of operation in chemical plants that cannot be easily stopped and started, makes the operational restrictions in these plants a serious concern for the industry leaders. Restricted and delayed shipments from China have created a price hike in the raw materials, affecting the core of the chemicals industry.

The slacking demand from different impacted industries such as automotive is negatively influencing the growth of the chemical industry. In light of the current crisis, the market leaders are focused to become self-reliant which is expected to benefit the economic growth of different economies in the longer term. Companies are triggering events to restructure and recover from the losses incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Polyanionic cellulose (PAC) is a type of water-soluble cellulose ether derivative manufactured by the chemical modification of natural cellulose. It is a vital type of water-soluble cellulose ether. Polyanionic cellulose finds important applications in offshore exploration & production, drilling & salt well operations in the upstream oil & gas industry. It is a white or yellowish, odorless powder, which is hygroscopic, tasteless, & non-toxic. It is water-soluble at both low as well as high temperatures, and forms a thick liquid when dissolved in water.

PAC displays high stability in high temperature applications and exhibits high resistance to salty environments as well. It has also been found to possess anti-bacterial properties. Polyanionic cellulose slurry displays superior fluid loss reducing capability, rejection capability and higher temperature tolerance in various applications. Furthermore, polyanionic cellulose finds applications across a diverse range of industries for a wide range of uses apart from the oil & gas industry. For instance, food & beverage, pharmaceutical, chemical, plastic and polymer are some of the end use industries worth noting.

Considering these important aspects of the applications of polyanionic cellulose, the study of the polyanionic cellulose market becomes an important read.

In the search for hydrocarbons to ensure smooth, long term supply of crude oil & natural gas and energy sufficiency, petroleum exploration & production companies have been strategizing to procure & develop offshore oil & gas fields in deeper waters, as well in harsh environment offshore conditions. This has been translating into an increase in the demand for polyanionic cellulose, as it has significant applications in context to altering drilling fluid properties in favor of ensuring smooth oilfield service operations. Polyanionic cellulose provides superior filtration control and supplementary viscosity in most water-based drilling fluids, vis-à-vis other oilfield chemicals. This has been an important factor driving the growth of the polyanionic cellulose market.

In recent times, there has been a rise in the demand for polyanionic cellulose from the fast growing food & beverage industry. This is so because polyanionic cellulose has demonstrated to be more safe vis-à-vis other chemicals, as a food additive, thereby gaining preferential use. Polyanionic cellulose has also been finding increased usage in water purification processes in the food & beverage industry. It is also being widely used as a stabilizer & thickener in food production. For instance, jelly products & ice creams are stabilized & thickened to a large extent with the use of polyanionic cellulose (PAC). PAC is also advantageous due to its compatibility to be canned & stored for extended periods of time, thereby becoming a popular choice as a food stabilizer. It is also being increasingly used to stabilize gravies and fruit & vegetable juices. The rapid growth of the food & beverages industry has also been contributing to the market growth of polyanionic cellulose at a global level. In the pharmaceutical industry, polyanionic cellulose has been gaining importance as an emulsifier & a stabilizer in the manufacture of injectable medicines & tablets due to its effective bonding properties.