(1) NMP is used to recover certain hydrocarbons generated in the processing of petrochemicals, such as the recovery of 1, 3-butadiene and acetylene.
(2) It is used to absorb hydrogen sulfide from sour gas and hydrodesulfurization facilities. Due to its good solvency properties NMP is used to dissolve a wide range of polymers.
(3) It is also used as a solvent for surface treatment of textiles, resins, and metal coated plastics or as a paint stripper. It is utilized as a solvent in the commercial preparation of polyphenylene sulfide.
(4) In the pharmaceutical industry, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone is used in the formulation for drugs by both oral and transdermal delivery routes.
(5) It is also used heavily in lithium ion battery fabrication, as a solvent for electrode preparation, though there is much effort to replace it with solvents of less environmental concern, like water.
