【Ten Years of Rapid Development in Chemical Equipment】Major breakthroughs achieved in technological advancements in China’s petroleum aromatics sector from 2024 to 2026

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Safety first. Prevention first: Let’s give praise and support to the achievements made in China’s chemical engineering technology and equipment. **********************【A Decade of Great Progress in Chemical Engineering Equipment】Regular updates and summaries are available; feel free to join the discussions at https://bbs.hcbbs.com/thread-3576046-1-1.html (Source: Haichuan Chemical Engineering Forum) ***************** On November 16th, the major scientific and technological project of China National Petroleum Corporation – the development and application of technologies for producing aromatic hydrocarbon raw materials through diesel adsorption as well as for the downstream utilization of these aromatic hydrocarbons (hereinafter referred to as the Aromatic Hydrocarbons Project) – was successfully reviewed in Beijing by the Science and Technology Management Department of China National Petroleum Corporation. The project received an excellent evaluation, marking a significant breakthrough in China National Petroleum Corporation’s efforts in this field. Aromatics, as an important pillar of the modern petroleum and chemical industries, are **a key component of the core competitiveness of the petrochemical industry. If aromatics are stable, the petrochemical industry is stable ； Strong aromatics mean a strong basic industry. To accelerate the development of a scientific and technological innovation system and demonstrate China National Petroleum Corporation’s commitment to China’s path of modernization, the company established a major scientific and technological initiative for aromatics in 2018, in line with the adjustments in the refining and petrochemical industry structure, as well as the urgent needs to improve quality and efficiency while reducing oil consumption and increasing the production of chemical products. Focusing on three key areas – aromatic raw materials, aromatic production, and aromatic utilization – this initiative has set forth research tasks such as the optimized use of diesel, third-generation purified terephthalic acid (PTA) technology, and the development of advanced processes for purified isophthalic acid (PIA). Efforts have been made to achieve cost reduction in raw materials, higher value for products, technological differentiation, and comprehensive resource utilization. To date, 42 patents have been applied for, 46 technical secrets have been identified, 6 software copyrights have been registered, and 4 industry and corporate standards have been established. Major innovative achievements have been developed, centered around four core technology series: million-ton-scale technologies for the optimized use of diesel, million-ton-scale combined technologies for PX adsorption concentration and crystallization purification, third-generation million-ton-scale PTA technologies, and 200,000 tons per year PIA processing technologies. The income generated from the deployment of these technologies exceeds 5.6 billion yuan, providing strong support for China National Petroleum Corporation’s efforts toward green and low-carbon development, particularly in reducing oil consumption and promoting industrial transformation and upgrading. This initiative has achieved breakthroughs across the entire spectrum of research and development and technology commercialization, resulting in the integration of both innovation chains and industrial chains. From PX to PTA and then to PET, the overall technical level and industry competitiveness of China’s petroleum aromatics industry chain have reached new heights. The promotion and application of achievements in the field of aromatics have yielded significant results, setting an example of the rapid transformation of scientific and technological achievements into real productive forces. Among them, the internationally pioneering technology for the differentiated utilization of diesel has led to breakthroughs in key areas such as process flow, adsorbents, patented grid equipment, and specialized control systems. It has enabled the licensing of a production capacity of 6 million tons per year, helping petrochemical companies to transform and upgrade themselves; this technology was also included in the list of “Top 10 Scientific and Technological Advances in China’s Petroleum Industry in 2020”” ； The third-generation PTA production technology has been upgraded and improved in key areas such as \"large-scale bubble column multiphase oxidation reaction technology and equipment, as well as technologies for the complete recycling of mother liquor.\" The total capacity resulting from technology transfer amounts to 7.3 million tons per year, and this technology has successfully entered overseas markets. It has been rated as \"internationally leading\" by the Chinese Chemical Society.