Xinjiang Yunju Tian New Materials’ 20,000 tons per year oxalate production project has successfully produced high-quality diethyl oxalate with a purity of 99.99%

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Recently, good news came from Xinjiang Yunju Tian New Materials Co., Ltd., a company controlled by Xinjiang Tianye Group: its 20,000 tons per year oxalate ester production facility has successfully produced high-quality diethyl oxalate with a purity of 99.99%. The key performance indicators of this product far exceed industry standards, filling the technical gap in the large-scale production of high-end oxalate esters in China. Since its commissioning in July last year, the project has been operating stably for over 6 months, with the performance parameters of various products such as methyl ethyl oxalate and diethyl oxalate continuing to improve. This marks Tianye Group’s success in utilizing its proprietary technology to establish a key pathway for converting coal-based ethylene glycol into high-value intermediates, providing a practical example for the industry to extend and enhance its value chains as well as to pursue transformation and upgrading. Overcoming key challenges to explore new green value-added pathways for traditional coal-based chemical industries. At present, China’s coal-based ethylene glycol industry is facing the common industry challenge of temporary overcapacity. Lianye Group builds on its million-ton-scale coal-based ethylene glycol production capacity, and adopts an innovative \"one end with multiple outputs\" industrial layout strategy, focusing its development efforts on high-value-added products in the oxalate series. This strategic approach has effectively overcome the problem of homogeneous competition in traditional coal chemical industries, significantly enhancing the flexibility and resilience of the industrial chain against market risks. It has paved a new path for the transformation of these industries toward greener practices and increased value of existing assets, offering a strategically sound solution to the industry’s key challenges. Through independent innovation, it has been possible to shift coal-based oxalate technology from a follower position to a leading one. The project for producing 20,000 tons of oxalates per year is an important outcome of the close collaboration and joint efforts between Xinjiang Yunju Tian and Shenyang University of Chemical Technology. The two parties innovatively implemented the \"three-oriented\" industry-university-research cooperation model of \"targeted research and development, targeted transformation, and targeted services,\" developed a complete set of technologies for the green transesterification synthesis of oxalate esters using coal-derived ethylene glycol intermediates, and created a process package with entirely independent intellectual property rights. Compared to the traditional esterification route, this new process offers significant advantages in terms of reaction efficiency, energy consumption control, and production costs. This technological breakthrough not only fills the gap in the large-scale production of high-end oxalates in China, but also enables the country’s coal-based oxalate industry to make a leap forward in terms of technical level, moving from following others to keeping pace with them and then to taking the lead. It highlights Xinjiang’s strong technical capabilities and regional innovation advantages in the field of energy chemistry. By redefining value, a new framework for high-end fine chemical products based on coal has been established. Leveraging the advantages of its core technical platforms, Tianye Group has managed to extend the coal-based ethylene glycol production chain to areas such as pharmaceutical intermediates, highly effective and low-toxicity pesticides, special solvents, new energy materials, as well as high-end oxalate intermediates like methyl ethyl oxalate and diethyl oxalate. This approach enables the transformation of coal-based chemicals from basic bulk raw materials into high-end fine chemicals and specialized new materials, thus creating a new industrial development model characterized by diversified raw materials, high-end products, and market differentiation. Both methyl ethyl oxalate and diethyl oxalate are high-purity chemical products, with their levels of ester content, moisture, and acidity far exceeding the industry average. Diethyl oxalate features high chemical activity as well as excellent solubility and stability, while methyl ethyl oxalate boasts the advantages of low toxicity, low odor, and controllable volatility. These two compounds complement each other and can be used in a wide range of high-end applications. Diethyl oxalate, serving as a key intermediate, can be used to synthesize triazine rings (triazine acids), ceftriaxone sodium (a β-lactam antibiotic), levofloxacin lactate (a quinolone antibacterial agent), and vitamin B6. It is also employed in the synthesis of high-efficiency pesticides such as deltamethrin and triazolone. Furthermore, it can be used to produce additives for lithium battery electrolytes, high-performance cleaning agents for semiconductors, and electronic-grade solvents. It is also a specialized solvent used by well-known domestic coating manufacturers for high-temperature painting and insulating coatings. Additionally, it can be utilized in the synthesis of environmentally friendly plasticizers and in the extraction treatment of industrial wastewater. Methylethyl oxalate is primarily used in the field of electronic precision manufacturing; it serves as a key component in fluxes for electrodes/wires. It helps to remove impurities from welding materials, improves the quality of welds, and reduces the emission of harmful fumes. It can also be utilized in the synthesis of fragrance and dye intermediates as well as for the precise cleaning of electronic components. Along with diethyl oxalate, it is used in high-end applications in the semiconductor and pharmaceutical industries.