Another breakthrough achieved in precious metal catalysts for Nanhua anti-aging agents

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On January 1, the precious metal catalyst developed independently by the R&D institute of Nanhua Company was successfully applied in the company’s rubber antioxidant 4010NA production facility, yielding qualified products. Previously, the company’s 6PPD rubber antioxidant production line had completed the full replacement of precious metal catalysts and achieved a successful first start-up. 　　Antioxidants are key additives in the rubber industry, widely used in products such as tires, tapes, and cables to effectively prevent the aging of rubber products. Focusing on the problems associated with traditional copper-based catalysts, such as complex production processes, numerous side reactions during ketone-to-alcohol conversion, and the impact of copper ion loss on product quality, Nanhua Company has developed precious metal catalysts. Following the successful industrial trial in 2021, the world’s first continuous production facility capable of manufacturing 12,000 tons per year of the precious metal catalyst-based rubber antioxidant 6PPD was built in 2022, with full replacement of the existing production lines achieved by 2025. 　　During this process of advancing industrial applications, the project team worked closely together and conducted in-depth discussions, going through various stages such as pilot tests and scale-up trials, and successfully overcame a series of technical challenges. After the successful application of precious metal catalysts in the 4010NA unit, the reaction pressure of the unit was significantly reduced, and the ketone-alcohol ratio was optimized, thereby improving the intrinsic safety level of the reaction process from the source. The implementation of this technology will significantly reduce the production costs of rubber antioxidant 4010NA, enhance the market competitiveness of the product, and contribute to the technological advancement of rubber products.