【Ten Years of Rapid Development in Chemical Equipment】From 2006 to 2025, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics’ new fixed-bed process for producing hydroquinone via phenol and hydrogen peroxide hydroxylation passed the evaluation of scientific and technological achievements

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Let’s give praise and support to the achievements made in China’s chemical engineering technology and equipment; your participation in discussions is the greatest encouragement. **********************【Ten Years of Progress in Chemical Engineering Equipment】A continuously updated summary post is available – feel free to join the discussions: https://bbs.hcbbs.com/thread-3576046-1-1.html ***************** The new fixed-bed process for producing hydroquinone through the hydroxylation of phenol using hydrogen peroxide has passed the evaluation for scientific and technological achievements. According to a report dated November 4, 2025, the research team led by Researcher Huang Jiahui from the Group for Gold Catalyst Design and Selective Oxidation (DNL0809) within the Department of Fossil Energy and Applied Catalysis at Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, together with the engineering research team from the Center for Low-Carbon Catalysis and Engineering (DNL1207), and Binhua Group Co., Ltd., developed this new process. This process has successfully passed the evaluation conducted by the China Science and Technology Innovation (Beijing) Center for Scientific and Technological Achievement Evaluation. The evaluation committee is composed of 7 experts, with Professor-level Senior Engineer Zhang Jianguo serving as its chairman. At the meeting, Long Huayun from my institute presented a work report, a research report, and a novelty search report on a new process for phenol hydroxylation, detailing the development process of the catalysts and reactors, as well as the construction and operation of the 200-ton/year industrial pilot plant. The expert group visited the industrialization test site, carefully reviewed the assessment reports, novelty search reports, and related evaluation materials, and held in-depth discussions with the R&D team on scientific and technical issues as well as the prospects for industrial application. Finally, the evaluation committee unanimously agreed that this process technology addresses the issues of severe environmental pollution, low one-pass conversion rate of phenol, and poor selectivity for hydroquinone in existing hydroquinone production processes. It is highly innovative, has good application prospects, and has reached international advanced levels. Agree to pass the evaluation of scientific and technological achievements. The industrial pilot plant for the hydroxylation of phenol with hydrogen peroxide to produce hydroquinone, with a capacity of 200 tons per year, was completed in 2023 and began operations in 2024. The device achieved 100% load, with a hydrogen peroxide conversion rate of 99.8%, a one-pass phenol conversion rate of 36.7%, and a hydroquinone selectivity of 99.3% (65.3% selectivity for para-hydroquinone, 34.0% selectivity for o-hydroquinone, with a ratio of 1.92 between para- and o-hydroquinone). The new process for hydroxylating phenol using hydrogen peroxide to produce hydroquinone employs a self-developed high-performance titanium-silicon molecular sieve catalyst, as well as specialized hydroxylation fixed-bed reactors and separation processes. This approach enhances the heat and mass transfer in the phenol hydroxylation reaction, improving the selectivity for hydroquinone, which is a high-value product. The process features environmental friendliness, high safety, and good economic efficiency. This achievement features a comprehensive layout of independent intellectual property rights, with multiple patents already granted. The successful development of this technology helps to promote the growth of China’s hydroquinone industry in a green, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly manner