PRESS RELEASE
1-6-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8246 JapanMay 27, 2024

Zeon Corporation receives Special Technology Prize at the 56th JCIA Technology Awards
Highly recognized for developing a groundbreaking manufacturing method for Cyclopentanone

Zeon Corporation

Zeon Corporation (Zeon; head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Tetsuya Toyoshima) has won the Special
Technology Prize at the 56th JCIA Technology Awards, sponsored by the Japan Chemical Industry Association (JCIA). TheJCIA Technology Award program recognizes businesses that have contributed to advancing the chemical industry as wellas the economy and society by developing and commercializing superior chemical technologies. The program consistsof three prizes: the Grand Prize, the Special Technology Prize, and the Environmental Technology Prize. The Special
Technology Prize awarded to Zeon is given for an original or improved technology that, even if small in scale, excels inoriginality and technology. This is the first time Zeon has received a JCIA Technology Award since winning theEnvironmental Technology Prize at the 32nd JCIA Technology Awards.
Zeon received this latest award for developing a new and innovative manufacturing method for Cyclopentanone andcreating business for five-membered ring compounds. The company was highly recognized for using dicyclopentadiene(DCPD) extracted from C5 fractions as the starting material for this method, which has advanced the chemical industry
through the development, manufacture, and sale of associated products.
Cyclopentanone is a key product of Zeon’s comprehensive C5 business, contributing significantly to its competitive
strength. Derived from DCPD found in C5 fractions as its main raw material, Cyclopentanone is widely used as asemiconductor solvent and a key ingredient in synthetic fragrances, owing to its high solubility and excellent drying andrecovery properties. The awarded manufacturing method, developed in 2004, not only yields higher outputs ofCyclopentanone compared to conventional methods but also ensures an exceptionally clean process with minimal CO2emissions.

Properties of Cyclopentanone
・ Purity: Minimum 99%

・ Cleaning agent based on a single substance with a low boiling point and excellent drying andrecovery properties
・ Can be recycled, and easily managed as a fluid
・ Good biodegradability and low toxicity

Chemical structure of Cyclopentanone

Cyclopentyl methyl ether (CPME), developed by Zeon using Cyclopentene, also serves as an intermediate raw material in
the new production process for Cyclopentanone. CPME has been successfully commercialized and widely adopted as asolvent for pharmaceutical manufacturing and various other applications. Its high hydrophobicity and high boiling point
make it a safe choice for industries requiring such properties.
Zeon is honored to receive this prestigious award for its efforts in developing the new manufacturing method andestablishing business for five-membered ring compounds through this innovative process. This initiative had beenrecognized as an outstanding contribution to industrial progress, particularly in areas such as semiconductors, fragrances,and pharmaceutical manufacturing. The company remains committed to advancing original technologies that enhancesafety and comfort in daily life.

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PRESS RELEASE
1-6-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8246 Japan

Attendees at the May 24 award ceremony

For more information, contact:
Department of Corporate Communications, Corporate Sustainability Division, Zeon Corporation
Phone: +81-3-3216-2747

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