【Ten Years of Rapid Development in Chemical Processing Equipment】3057–2026: International leadership in organic tubular microporous membrane and related equipment technologies

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Let’s give praise and encouragement 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】Regular updates and summaries are available; feel free to join the discussions: https://bbs.hcbbs.com/thread-3576046-1-1.html ***************** On March 27th, the project titled “Organic tubular microporous membranes and related equipment for hydrometallurgical separation,” developed by Zhejiang Dongou Filter Manufacturing Co., Ltd. in collaboration with Zhejiang University and its Shaoxing Research Institute, passed the evaluation of scientific and technological achievements organized by the Zhejiang Membrane Industry Association in Lishui. The expert group led by Chinese engineering academician Gao Congjie unanimously agreed that the achievements of this project are highly innovative overall, reaching an internationally advanced level. According to Professor Fang Chuanjie, representative of the project team and from the Shaoxing Research Institute of Zhejiang University, in response to the urgent demand for high-performance separation materials in fields such as advanced manufacturing, new energy, and environmental protection, and addressing industry challenges such as the difficulty in controlling the pore size of traditional polymer microporous membranes, poor compatibility of filtration equipment, and limited application scenarios, the project team focused on researching key technologies related to polymer tubular microporous membranes, production processes, equipment, and applications, achieving three significant results. First, the key technologies for structural control and preparation of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene and polypropylene microporous tubular membrane materials were developed, including on-demand design of membrane materials, orientation of the coating pore structure, and heat-induced phase method for tube formation. This led to the creation of a complete set of processes for the controlled production of tubular membranes with high tolerance, high flux, and high retention levels, representing a first in the industry. Secondly, a filtration and washing coupled process based on microporous tubular membranes was developed, along with the corresponding equipment. An innovative membrane module design was also created, featuring high levels of automation, simple operation and maintenance, and low operating costs. Moreover, key performance indicators such as filtration accuracy and flux stability of this equipment exceed industry standards. Thirdly, a set of process technologies for filtration and concentration, including high-speed flow dispersion, batch cake unloading, and forced circulation, was developed. A mathematical model for the filtration, concentration, and reaction processes involving small precursor particles was established, along with software systems for real-time data collection and centralized control, as well as PLC control devices. As a result, the first set of such equipment – a stirred-type precision microporous filtration and concentration system – was created. This solution addressed the technical challenges associated with traditional coprecipitation reaction processes, increasing the direct yield from 75% to 98%. The product particles had a higher degree of sphericity and a more uniform size distribution, leading to an improvement in production efficiency of over 20%. It indirectly contributes to increasing the energy storage density of power batteries by over 10%. Song Zhiji, general manager of Dongou Microfiltration, said that this achievement and the associated equipment can be widely applied in fields such as non-ferrous metallurgy, lithium batteries, and the chemical industry. They have already been used by leading domestic battery material manufacturers such as GEM, Zhongwei, and Huayou. The industrial filtration and innovative equipment from this project is employed in the glyphosate production lines of Nantong Jiangshan Pesticides, resulting in almost zero loss of catalysts (a recovery rate of 98.5%). This reduces the loss of precious metals such as palladium and nickel, as well as the environmental risks associated with toxic catalysts. To date, this achievement has been put into industrial use in over 100 enterprises at home and abroad, yielding significant economic and social benefits. In the field of battery materials, it has improved the direct yield and production efficiency of ternary precursor products, thereby contributing to an increase in the energy density of power batteries and helping to accelerate the development of China’s new energy vehicle industry chain. In the colored hydrometallurgy industry, ultra-fine metal recovery systems have been developed to extract rare metals such as cobalt and nickel from wastewater and waste acid, thereby increasing the supply of these metals in the industry and reducing China’s dependence on imported strategic resources. Weng Weirong, director of the Lishui Science and Technology Bureau, pointed out that Dongou Microfiltration is a leading enterprise in the field of high-performance polymer filtration technology in China. The polymer microporous membranes it develops, along with the associated industrial filtration equipment, feature technical innovation, practicality for industrial use, and forward-looking potential. They hold great strategic significance for enhancing China’s ability to innovate in the field of high-end separation membrane materials, breaking domestic technological monopolies, and promoting the green transformation of related industries. According to Song Zhiji, related technologies for this project have led to the formulation of **2 industry standards and 4 group standards; 61 invention patents have been granted, 3 PCT patents, and 30 utility model patents. In terms of investment in research, Dongou Microfiltration allocates more than 4% of its budget to R&D each year, resulting in numerous innovative achievements. It has not only served as the drafting unit for the **standard, but has also received numerous awards, including those of Hidden Champion Enterprise in Zhejiang Province, Key Small Giant Enterprise recognized for its expertise and uniqueness, and the title for its mixing-type precision filtration and concentration equipment as one of the first sets of major technical devices of this kind. In addition, Dongou Microfiltration established a Microfiltration Technology Research Institute in 2023, focusing on advancing capabilities in polymer microfiltration technology and fully embracing the wave of innovation in new microfiltration materials and equipment.