Nmp, also known as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, is an organic compound with the formula C5H9NO. It is a 5-membered lactam and is a colorless, odorless, sweet and syrupy liquid. It is miscible with various organic solvents such as water, alcohol, ether and chloroform. It also belongs to the class of dipolar aprotic solvents such as dimethylformamide and dimethyl sulfoxide.

Nmp is used in many fields in industry and daily life. By polymerizing or esterifying Nmp, various NMP derivatives are obtained. These derivatives are used in glass, ceramics, soaps, fertilizers, paints, textiles, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, adhesives, sealants, water treatment and other industries.

The chemical and physical properties of Nmp are:

• Its molecular weight is 99.13 g/mol.
• Melting point is -24 °C.
• Its boiling point is 204 °C.
• Its density is 1.03 g/mL.
• Solubility is high in water and alcohol, medium in ether, low in chloroform.
• pKa value is 4.25.

The production methods of Nmp are as follows:

• Butyrolactone-methylamine reaction method: This is the most common production method of Nmp. Nmp is obtained by the reaction of butyrolactone with methylamine. Water is also produced in this method.
• Maleic acid-succinic acid hydrolysis method: This is an alternative production method of Nmp. Nmp is obtained by hydrolysis of maleic acid or succinic acid solutions. This method also produces carbon dioxide⁴.

Among the uses of nmp are the following:

• As antifreeze: Nmp is a component of antifreeze formulations. It is used as a heat transfer medium in automobile, computer and cooling systems. Mixed with water, it lowers the freezing point and raises the boiling point. It also helps prevent corrosion.
• For polyester fiber production: Nmp is an important raw material for polyester fiber production. It is esterified with terephthalic acid or dimethyl terephthalate to produce polyethylene terephthalate (PET). PET is then melted or crystallized into polyester fibers.
• For the plastics industry: Nmp is also used in the plastics industry. It is used to make polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles. Nmp is also used to make polyurethane foams.
• For natural gas plants: Nmp is also used in natural gas plants. Nmp is used for drying and cleaning natural gas. Nmp is also used to prevent icing in natural gas pipelines.
• For the tanning and pharmaceutical industry: Nmp is also used in the tanning and pharmaceutical industries. In leather tanning, Nmp is used to soften and protect leather. In the pharmaceutical industry, Nmp is used to coat tablets and improve their solubility.