The multi-functional polycondensation pilot plant at the Beijing Institute of Chemical Technology has been put into operation, and the first phase of the Tianjin facility is expected to be completed in full this year

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The multi-functional solution polymerization pilot plant at the Beijing Institute of Chemical Technology’s Tianjin research site was brought online successfully; the first phase of the project at this site is expected to be completed entirely this year. On November 16, 2024, the multi-functional solution polymerization pilot plant at the Beijing Institute of Chemical Technology’s Tianjin Science and Testing Base (hereinafter referred to as the Beijing Institute of Chemical Technology’s Tianjin site) completed the entire production process successfully in just one attempt. Reporters from China Chemical Industry News learned that this is the 11th pilot plant among the 13 units in the first phase of the Tianjin facility of Beijing Institute of Chemical Technology to complete its commissioning successfully; the commissioning of the remaining 2 pilot plants is expected to be finished by the end of this year. 　　The multi-functional solution polymerization pilot plant put into operation this time is an important part of the polymerization pilot plant at the Tianjin facility of the Beijing Institute of Chemical Technology, and it is used for the development of a series of vinyl elastomer technologies. The facility utilizes process technologies independently developed by the North Chemical Research Institute, and it serves as an important platform for the research and development of new materials. For its operation, single-center catalysts and promoters also developed by the North Chemical Research Institute were used. During the startup process, the New Product Development Department, the Safety and Environmental Protection Department of BEIC, as well as Sinopec BEIC (Tianjin) Technology Development Co., Ltd. worked together closely and made thorough preparations. They overcame various challenges such as the tight deadline, lack of operational experience, and the need to get the equipment and instruments up and running properly. As a result, it was possible to initiate the reaction just half an hour after feeding the catalyst, and the entire system was operational after 11 hours – achieving the ideal startup condition. The project’s technical personnel will build on this foundation to further optimize the technology and develop new products, thereby accelerating the industrial application of this technology as well as that of polyolefin elastomers and other similar technologies, providing strong support for the development of related manufacturing industries in our country. 　　The Tianjin facility of the North China Research Institute is located to the east of the Olefins Department at Tianjin Petrochemical in Dagang, Binhai New Area, Tianjin. Covering an area of 37.25 hectares, it represents Sinopec’s largest research and development investment to date. The project is constructed in two phases. Phase 1 is primarily aimed at providing technical support and facilitating structural upgrades for the polyolefin industry, with certain technologies being used to address key technical challenges. The construction scope includes 13 pilot-scale production units for olefin polymerization, polyolefin catalysts, and special elastomers, as well as supporting facilities such as offices and analysis and testing laboratories. The second-phase plan covers areas such as chemical process intensification, ethylene technology, fine chemicals, and environmental protection technologies. 　　The reporter learned that for the first phase of the project, 51 main construction items have already passed the intermediate handover inspection. Among them, 11 pilot plants have completed testing and produced qualified products, while testing is currently in progress for the remaining 2 pilot plants, including those for poly-1-butene. The first single-center catalyst pilot plant for Phase 2 began construction on April 26 and was mechanically completed on October 30. 　　Once fully established, the Tianjin facility of the North China Research Institute will cover the key business areas for Sinopec’s future development. It will become a world-class research and development center for chemical materials, integrating the development of advanced polymerization processes, the research and creation of high-performance materials, the production of high-end chemicals, and the incubation of complete sets of technologies. This will help strengthen China’s innovation capabilities in the synthetic materials industry chain and value chain, enabling it to move towards higher levels of sophistication.