Construction of China’s first pilot plant for producing coal-based PEN material monomers on a scale of 100 tons has begun

As a new type of functional material, PEN materials hold broad application prospects in fields such as 5G communications, photovoltaics and hydrogen fuel cell membrane electrodes, aerospace, and nuclear energy materials. However, the production technology for its key monomer, 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, has been under foreign control for a long time, severely restricting the development of PEN industry in China. “After 6 years of research, the technical team from the Coal Science Research Institute developed a set of new processes and equipment for the continuous synthesis of coal-based 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, which is the first of its kind both domestically and internationally. ”A relevant official from the Coal Research Institute said that the institute is guided by the development needs of the **PEN industry, focuses on clean and low-carbon solutions, innovates processes at the source, and explores ways to transform coal from a traditional fuel into a high-value raw material. Leveraging its technical expertise in coal conversion, the research institute successfully overcame the challenges associated with the synthesis of coal-based 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid. It established a production platform capable of manufacturing coal-based PEN monomers on an annual tonnage scale, and developed a new set of processes and equipment for the continuous synthesis of coal-based 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid using microchannel reactors. On this basis, the Coal Research Institute has accelerated efforts to build a pilot-scale demonstration plant for PEN monomers with a capacity of 100 tons. The relevant official mentioned that the Coal Science Institute has been strengthening its intellectual property strategy regarding the key monomer technologies for coal-based PEN materials, and has established a comprehensive intellectual property system. To date, this technology has obtained over 20 domestic authorized patents ； One **standard sample of 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid was developed, filling the gap in high-purity samples of PEN monomers in China ； New methods for the analytical characterization and quality control of coal-based PEN monomers throughout the entire process have been developed.

Project Name: Pilot-scale verification project for coal-based 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid as a monomer for polyester PEN materials. Construction location: Within the reserved area of the existing production facility of Guoneng Baotou Coal Chemical Co., Ltd., located at No. 1 Shenhua Science and Technology Park, Jiuyuan Industrial Park, Baotou City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Construction contents: A new 100-ton-scale 2,6-NDA demonstration plant will be built, including an acylation unit, a crystallization unit for the acylation product, an oxidation unit, an esterification unit, a slicing and packaging unit, an exhaust gas treatment unit, a hydrolysis unit, etc. The utility and auxiliary facilities required for this project will be provided by existing facilities. It is reported that 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, as a key monomer for polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), has had its production technology monopolized by foreign companies, which has severely restricted the development of PEN industry in China. **Various departments, including the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, have successively introduced policies such as the \"Implementation Plan for the Innovative Development of the Fine Chemicals Industry (2024–2027)\” and the \"Implementation Plan for the Industrialization of Key Technologies in New Materials\", to support the development of PEN materials in China. PEN stands for polyethylene naphthalate, which is synthesized by the polycondensation of 2,6-naphthalic dimethyl ester (NDC) or 2,6-naphthalic acid (NDA) with ethylene glycol (EG). It is an emerging and excellent polymer. The chemical structure of PEN is similar to that of PET, with the difference being that in PEN’s molecular chain, the benzene rings found in PET are replaced by naphthalene rings, which are more rigid. This naphthalene ring structure confers on PEN higher physical and mechanical properties, as well as better gas barrier properties, chemical stability, and resistance to heat, chemicals, ultraviolet rays, and radiation. The main consumer applications of PEN downstream are in films, which can be used for flexible printed circuit board films, capacitor films, F-grade insulation films, etc.; it can also be applied in data tapes, automotive sensors, insulating components, and more. Due to its excellent rigidity, physical and mechanical properties, gas barrier properties, chemical stability, as well as heat resistance, UV resistance, and radiation resistance, PEN is seeing a growing use in consumer applications, gradually replacing PET films in that market.

To establish a collaborative framework across the entire industrial chain, the Coal Research Institute has carried out thorough planning at every stage of the chain regarding the key monomer technologies for coal-based PEN materials. Focusing on the foreign patent barriers in PEN monomer preparation technology, it has continuously strengthened its intellectual property strategy and established a comprehensive intellectual property system. To date, over 20 domestic authorized patents have been obtained, along with 1 PCT patent application each at the international level ； One **standard sample** of 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid was developed simultaneously, filling the gap in high-purity samples of PEN monomers in China; moreover, new methods for the analytical characterization and quality control of coal-based PEN monomers throughout their production process were established. At the same time, products independently developed using a pilot-scale platform were compared with foreign products, and performance evaluations were conducted on end-users; feedback was received stating that \"the product appearance is uniform, the purity of each unit has reached imported-level standards, and its performance is comparable.\" Currently, the project is in a critical phase of constructing a pilot plant on a hundred-ton scale. The Coal Research Institute affiliated with China National Coal Technology Group has made progress from achieving technological breakthroughs in the laboratory to developing a complete industrial chain, thereby laying a solid foundation for the domestic substitution of PEN materials and ensuring self-sufficiency in their production. At the same time, it has provided strong impetus for advancing the coal chemical industry in the direction of higher sophistication, greater diversity, and lower carbon emissions. Original title: Breaking through the “bottleneck” challenges! China Coal Research Institute initiates construction of a 100-ton pilot plant for coal-based PEN material monomers»

【Ten Years of Rapid Development in Chemical Processing Equipment】Successful first ignition of the world’s largest open-air flare unit from 2011 to 2019 https://bbs.hcbbs.com/thread-5673820-1-1.html (Source: Haichuan Chemical Industry Forum [Haichuan Network])

【Ten Years of Rapid Development in Chemical Engineering Equipment】2012–2024: China’s first hydrogen-integrated high-pressure long-distance pipeline was put into operation! https://bbs.hcbbs.com/thread-5673831-1-1.html (Source: Haichuan Chemical Industry Forum [Haichuan Network])

As a new type of functional material, PEN materials are extremely important in various industries such as 5G communications and photovoltaics. Congratulations on the new breakthroughs and advancements achieved in the development of PEN materials in our country.