【Ten Years of Rapid Development in Chemical Equipment】From 1977 to 2024: The pilot-scale technology for the catalytic conversion of biomass into ethylene glycol on a thousand-ton scale passed the evaluation for its technical achievements
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Safety first. Prevention first – let’s give praise and support to the achievements in China’s chemical engineering technology and equipment. **********************【Ten Years of Rapid Development in Chemical Engineering Equipment】A continuously updated summary post is available; feel free to join the discussions at https://bbs.hcbbs.com/thread-3576046-1-1.html (Source: Haichuan Chemical Industry Forum) ***************** On October 17, 2024, the team led by Academician Zhang Tao, Researcher Zheng Mingyuan, and Researcher Wang Aiqin from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (hereinafter referred to as “Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics”), in collaboration with Zhongke Baiyijin (Zhengzhou) New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Zhongke Baiyijin Company”), developed a pilot-scale technology for the catalytic conversion of biomass into ethylene glycol on a thousand-ton scale. This technology passed the evaluation of scientific and technological achievements organized by the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation. The evaluation committee believes that this technology has pioneered a new route for the one-step catalytic conversion of biomass sugars into ethylene glycol; it has developed a complete set of technologies for producing ethylene glycol on a kiloton scale from biomass sugars. It has enabled the transition from basic research findings regarding highly selective catalytic conversion of biomass into ethylene glycol to practical applications at a kiloton scale, with the overall technical level reaching international leading standards. The committee unanimously agreed to approve this scientific and technological achievement. Ethylene glycol is an important bulk energy chemical, with global consumption exceeding 30 million tons per year. It is primarily used in the production of synthetic polyester fibers, polyester bottle chips, antifreeze, coatings, and pharmaceuticals. Our country is a major producer and consumer of ethylene glycol, with annual consumption exceeding 20 million tons. However, ethylene glycol is primarily produced from petroleum ethylene or coal, and it has drawbacks such as non-renewable raw materials, high carbon dioxide emissions, and high energy consumption; therefore, there is an urgent need to develop green technologies for its production. In 2008, the team led by Zhang Tao at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics pioneered a new international reaction for the direct catalytic conversion of cellulose into ethylene glycol, providing a new approach for the production of bio-based ethylene glycol. Since then, the team has carried out continuous and systematic research from two perspectives: fundamental catalytic science and industrial applications of technology, achieving a series of advancements in areas such as the development of low-cost catalysts, research on reaction mechanisms and kinetics, the expansion of raw material options, and process scale-up. In 2019, the team collaborated with companies such as Zhongke Baiyijin to carry out a pilot project for the catalytic conversion of biomass into ethylene glycol on a scale of 1,000 tons. At the beginning of 2022, the world’s first facility of this kind for converting biomass into ethylene glycol on a 1,000-ton scale was built in Puyang, Henan Province. Operations at this facility began in June of that same year, and the entire production process was successfully implemented, resulting in the production of industrial-grade ethylene glycol made from biomass. Subsequently, the project team carried out technical upgrades to the device’s process, and completed a 72-hour on-site test on October 16, 2023. The results showed that the selectivity for the ethylene glycol product was close to 80%, the purity of the product reached 99.9%, and its ultraviolet transmittance met the standards for polyester-grade ethylene glycol. The operation data of the device show that the technical and economic viability of this approach is superior to that of the existing bioethanol-bioethylene-bio-based ethylene glycol technology route. At the same time, the bio-based ethylene glycol produced was tested by users for polyester synthesis, and its quality was superior to that of coal-based ethylene glycol. The results of this pilot operation laid the foundation for the industrial application of this technology at a scale of 10,000 tons per year for the catalytic conversion of biomass into ethylene glycol. The pilot-scale technology for the catalytic conversion of biomass on a thousand-ton scale to produce ethylene glycol uses biomass such as straw sugar as raw materials, and through a highly selective catalyst system and reaction system, along with efficient product separation processes, it produces ethylene glycol. The entire process features a short route, mild conditions, and high atomic economy, making it part of a green, low-carbon circular economy approach. This technology has obtained over 40 authorized invention patents, boasts complete independent intellectual property rights, and was awarded the First Prize in Natural Sciences of Liaoning Province in 2022. As an irreplaceable synthetic raw material for bio-based polyester materials, biomass ethylene glycol holds great development prospects. The ethylene glycol products produced by this technology have already been brought to market and are used in the production of bio-based polyester (PET), fully bio-based furan plastics (PEF), fragrances, and more. The pilot-scale technology for the catalytic conversion of biomass on a thousand-ton scale to produce ethylene glycol holds the potential to provide important technical solutions for the upgrading of the ethylene glycol industry chain, the production of bio-based polyesters, and the development of green chemistry in China. It is of great significance for achieving China’s \"dual carbon\" goals as well as sustainable economic development.
Expert opinion: He Mingyuan, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences: The successful pilot-scale demonstration of this technology is truly exciting. Ethylene glycol is a bulk chemical; the existing production methods mainly involve its synthesis through petroleum cracking and coal, and both of these fossil fuels are non-renewable. There has also been extensive research in the industry on producing ethylene glycol from biomass, but the reactions are complex and the production process is lengthy. The biomass catalytic conversion process developed by the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics features a short process route, requiring only one reaction step to achieve the desired product; its technical and economic advantages outweigh those of the existing bioethanol-bioethylene-bio-based ethylene glycol technology route. Furthermore, the reaction conditions of this process route are also mild, the yield of the product is close to 80%, and its atomic economy is very high; it represents a green, low-carbon circular economy approach that is highly beneficial for China in achieving its \"dual carbon\" goals. Yang Liping, Executive Dean of the Research Institute at Wan Kai New Materials Co., Ltd.: Ethylene glycol is closely related to daily life, and it is used in various areas such as clothing, mineral water bottles, and car seats, covering all aspects of people’s lives. Ethylene glycol has a high apparent consumption volume, is difficult to produce, and comes with strict requirements regarding its quality parameters; both product purity and light transmittance are subject to rigorous standards. The technology for the catalytic conversion of biomass into ethylene glycol developed by the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics is of great significance. As a downstream application enterprise, we are highly enthusiastic about the development of bio-based ethylene glycol technology, and look forward to its scaling up to tens of thousands of tons at an early date. Zhao Chunchai, Vice President of Xinfengming Group Co., Ltd.: At present, ethylene glycol is derived from petroleum-based and coal-based sources; bio-based ethylene glycol is something we are focusing on closely. The biomass catalytic conversion technology for the production of ethylene glycol developed by the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics holds promise in providing important technical solutions for the upgrading of the ethylene glycol industry chain and the production of bio-based polyesters; it is of great significance for achieving China’s \"dual carbon\" goals and sustainable development.
【Ten Years of Great Development in Chemical Engineering Equipment】1978–2024: The Shaohang Maiwei half-waste gasification furnace has achieved continuous, safe, and stable operation for 300 days in a row. http://bbs.hcbbs.com/thread-5671860-1-1.html (Source: Haichuan Chemical Engineering Forum)
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