The new process for direct oxidation of propylene oxide is internationally leading

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Recently, the new process for the direct oxidation of propylene to propylene oxide using a liquid-solid circulating fluidized bed and hydrogen peroxide (FHPPO) passed the performance evaluation organized by the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation. The evaluation committee, chaired by Peng Xiaojun, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, unanimously agreed that this technology is highly innovative and has good application prospects, reaching an internationally leading level; they recommended accelerating the construction of demonstration facilities. This project was developed jointly by a team led by Researcher Huang Jiahui and Senior Engineer Liu Yingchun from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Tianjin Dagu Chemical Co., Ltd. Unlike the process of producing propylene oxide via direct oxidation with hydrogen peroxide (HPPO), FHPPO applies liquid-solid circulating fluidized bed reactors to propylene oxide production, opening up a new field for the industrial use of such reactors. This process features green and low-carbon properties, high safety, and good economic efficiency, with its key technical indicators being superior to those of existing processes. FHPPO uses a liquid-solid circulating fluidized bed reaction-regeneration system in place of traditional tubular fixed-bed reactors, thereby enhancing the heat and mass transfer rates in the liquid-phase epoxidation of propylene and improving the production efficiency of propylene oxide. The catalyst can be continuously recycled and regenerated, and replaced online, achieving a high degree of coupling between the epoxidation reaction and catalyst regeneration. The project was launched in 2019, and the 100-ton pilot plant was put into operation in 2021. From January 8 to 10, 2022, the Petrochemical Federation organized an expert team to conduct a 72-hour evaluation and calibration of the pilot plant. The calibration results show that the device achieves a hydrogen peroxide conversion rate of 99.7%, a propylene oxide selectivity of 98.2%, an effective utilization rate of hydrogen peroxide of 99.9%, and a product purity of 99.95%. The space-time yield is 2 to 3 times higher than that of similar technologies available domestically and internationally. Some propylene oxide manufacturers say that if this new technology can be industrialized as soon as possible, it is expected to raise the level of propylene oxide production technology in our country. According to reports from journalists, as the \"dual carbon\" policies continue to be implemented, the propylene oxide industry is facing the need for transformation and upgrading. The co-oxidation method for producing propylene oxide, as well as the HPPO process, have gradually become the mainstream approaches in this industry’s development. HPPO features low pollution and mild reaction conditions; in recent years, there has been a growing number of new HPPO propylene oxide projects worldwide, and many domestic enterprises and research institutions are gradually making progress in mastering the core process technologies for HPPO. In 2014, SINOPEC’s Research Institute of Petrochemicals and Changling Refining & Chemicaling developed China’s first 100,000-ton/year HPPO industrial plant using independently developed technology, making China the third country in the world to possess complete HPPO technology. In 2018, this technology was rated as internationally advanced, with the catalyst technology and material consumption at the world’s leading level. On September 12 of this year, Yida Co., Ltd. issued a announcement stating that the 150,000 tons per year propylene oxide production project in Taixing Yida utilizes the HPPO process technology developed by Yida itself. Following trial production, the company has begun to produce products that meet the premium quality standards specified in the national standard GB/T 14491-2015 for industrial propylene oxide, thus satisfying the needs of market customers. In addition, Dalian Zhongcatalyst, China Tianchen, East China University of Science and Technology, and others have made breakthroughs in HPPO technology and its industrialization.