【Frontiers in HaiChuan Chemical Technology】Breakthrough achieved in Tianjin University’s technology for producing fatty alcohols from biological oils

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Recently, the technology for the highly selective hydrogenation of biological oils to produce fatty alcohols, developed by Professor Zhao Yujun’s team from the School of Chemical Engineering at Tianjin University in collaboration with Liaoning Fine Chemical Industry Technology Development Co., Ltd., passed the evaluation of scientific and technological achievements organized by the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation. The expert committee unanimously agreed that this technology is highly innovative, with its comprehensive technical indicators reaching international leading levels; it represents a significant breakthrough in China’s manufacturing processes for high-end natural fatty alcohols, laying the foundation for achieving self-sufficiency and control in this field. 　　Fatty alcohols are regarded as the \"industrial staple\" of modern fine chemicals. Natural fatty alcohols derived from renewable resources such as coconut oil and palm oil are favored in the fields of cosmetics and personal care due to their regular molecular structure, complete biodegradability, and gentle, non-irritating effect on the skin, making them \"green favorites\" in these industries. The demand for fatty alcohols in our country is on the rise, yet there is a high degree of dependence on imports; the bottleneck issues related to the key manufacturing processes need to be addressed urgently. Developing new efficient and low-carbon production methods is not only a requirement for the industrial development of our country but also a key challenge at the forefront of global technological innovation. 　　Faced with the industry’s challenges, Zhao Yujun’s team abandoned the approach of imitation and instead pioneered a new theory called \"condensed phase catalysis\" from a theoretical standpoint, resulting in two major innovative achievements. Firstly, in terms of catalyst development, the team uncovered the key mechanism by which the activity of copper-based catalysts depends on the synergistic interaction between dissociated hydrogen and activated ester groups. By employing innovative techniques such as \"carbon coating for confinement\" and \"adjuvant modification,\" they were able to precisely control the surface structure of the catalysts. This not only significantly improved their catalytic activity and selectivity but also reduced the silanol groups on the carrier surface that are prone to corrosion by methanol, endowing the catalysts with excellent resistance to methanol poisoning and high-temperature sintering, thereby extending their service life considerably. 　　Secondly, in terms of process design, the integrated process technology for \"medium-pressure condensed-phase lipid hydrogenation\" developed by the team avoids the high energy consumption and safety risks associated with traditional methods. By creating an efficient reaction environment under mild conditions of medium pressure and a low hydrogen-to-ester ratio, it enables the targeted and efficient conversion of fatty acid esters into fatty alcohols, thereby reducing energy consumption and equipment investment throughout the entire process from the outset. 　　On this basis, Zhao Yujun’s team, in collaboration with Liaoning Fine Chemical Industry Technology Development Co., Ltd., worked together to develop the key technologies for scaling up catalyst production from gram levels to ton levels. A pilot-scale plant for the full process of hydrogenating biological oils to produce fatty alcohols was built, enabling 1,000 hours of continuous and stable operation. Data from the 72-hour expert on-site evaluation show that the average conversion rate of methyl laurate, the key raw material in this pilot plant, is greater than or equal to 99.59%, while the average selectivity for the target product, lauryl alcohol, is greater than or equal to 99.69%. Each kilogram of catalyst can produce 309 grams of fatty alcohol per hour; after purification, the purity of the fatty alcohol is 99.93% or higher, and all quality parameters exceed those specified for **premium grade products. 　　At present, this technology has completed full-chain validation from laboratory research and pilot testing to pilot production on a scale of hundreds of tons; its technical maturity level (TRL) is above 7, providing a foundation for industrial-scale deployment. The R&D team has begun working on a 10,000-ton industrial demonstration project, with plans to apply this technology to products with longer carbon chains.