Sinopec Shanghai Research Institute’s integrated technology enabled the successful first-time commissioning of Zhenhai Refining & Chemical’s 550,000 tons per year isopropylbenzene plant

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The 550,000-ton/year isopropylbenzene plant at Zhenhai Refining & Chemical Corporation was successfully commissioned on its first attempt. Recently, the plant, which utilizes complete sets of technology provided by Shanghai Institute, was brought online successfully and began producing qualified products. This marks the establishment of a scaled-up phenol and propylene oxide production chain in China Petrochemical, thereby ensuring a stable supply of raw materials for high-value, efficient manufacturing processes downstream. The 550,000 tons per year isopropylbenzene plant is a new facility under Zhenhai Refining & Chemical’s high-end synthetic materials project; it operates downstream along the carbon triplets industry chain. The isopropylbenzene produced by this plant will serve as raw material for the phenol production plant and the epichlorohydrin production plant using the CHP process, both part of the high-end synthetic materials project. The isopropylbenzene production technology provided by the Shanghai Institute, adopted in this facility, boasts advantages such as high degree of automation, excellent product quality, safety and reliability, environmental friendliness, as well as energy savings and reduced consumption. This successful operation once again verifies the advancement of SIP’s complete set of technologies. To ensure safe and smooth operation of the plant, the Shanghai Institute brought together experts in areas such as catalysts, reaction processes, separation techniques, equipment and instrumentation, as well as analysis, to provide round-the-clock technical support to Zhenhai Refining & Chemical. Working side by side with the plant’s operators, they focused on precisely regulating process parameters and closely monitoring equipment status, as well as thoroughly reviewing control interlocks and accurately analyzing sample data. This approach ensured that operation parameters were adjusted with precision, equipment operated safely and reliably, automatic control systems functioned stably and promptly, and performance indicators were tracked accurately and efficiently, thus guaranteeing the success of all key stages of plant commissioning, material circulation, and reaction initiation.