ExxonMobil to Boost Isopropanol Production for Semiconductor Demand

ExxonMobil is set to significantly increase its production of isopropanol (IPA), aiming to manufacture 99.999% ultra-pure isopropanol to meet the rising demand from the semiconductor industry. Upgrades will be made at its Baton Rouge facility to ensure the high purity of this essential chemical by 2027.

In a recent statement, the company emphasized, “Our expertise and experience at the Baton Rouge manufacturing complex allow us to provide a U.S. supply chain for isopropanol to American chip manufacturers from end to end.”

As semiconductor sizes and complexities continue to advance, the next-generation chips require isopropanol with a purity level of 99.999%. This high level of purity is critical to preventing damage to the intricate circuits of these chips, especially those as small as 2 nanometers.

Isopropanol plays a vital role in semiconductor manufacturing, used for drying wafer surfaces and removing impurities, making ultra-pure isopropanol a key component in chip production.

According to Reuters, ExxonMobil plans to invest $100 million to expand the Baton Rouge plant.

Having produced isopropanol since 1920, ExxonMobil has consistently improved its manufacturing techniques. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the company became the largest producer of isopropanol for hand sanitizers in the U.S.