World’s first ethanol production project using coke oven gas comes online

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World’s First Ethanol Production Project from Coke Oven Gas Goes Into Operation Author/Source: Date: 2017-07-03 Clicks: 17 On the morning of July 2, a launch event for the world’s first ethanol production project using coke oven gas was held in Qian’an City, Hebei Province, marking a new step forward in the transformation and development of this resource-based city. The project is located to the west of Xialu Village, Shaheyi Town, Qian’an Economic Development Zone. It was invested and built by Tangshan Zhongrong Technology Co., Ltd. It makes use of the coke oven gas produced by nearby Lanhai Industrial Company and Baoliyuan Industrial Company to establish three production lines capable of producing 300,000 tons of anhydrous ethanol per year. The first phase of the project, with a capacity of 100,000 tons of anhydrous ethanol, has been put into operation, with a total investment of 450 million yuan. It is understood that Tangshan Zhongrong Technology is a high-tech enterprise of ** level, dedicated to the research, development, production, and sales of non-grain ethanol and its downstream products. In this project, Zhongrong Technology utilized 9 patents it had developed independently; it represents the world’s first facility for producing ethanol from coke oven gas. This project enables the efficient, cost-effective, and high-quality production of ethanol, paving the way for the coal chemical industry to move toward cleaner energy sources. As a result, China’s ethanol industry can now operate without competing with food production for grain resources. This project boasts the following advantages: first, its technology is mature and at the international leading level. Tangshan Zhongrong Technology began researching the process of producing ethanol from acetic acid in 2009; after going through laboratory tests, pilot studies, and 8,000 hours of pilot-scale testing, it achieved industrial production in 2013, establishing the world’s first production line capable of manufacturing 15,000 tons of anhydrous ethanol. This line has been operating stably for three years with good performance. The expansion project in Qian’an, which aims to produce ethanol using 100,000 tons of coke oven gas efficiently, was successful from the very first attempt. On December 24, 2016, the project it developed for its own use, titled “Research on Key Technologies for the Efficient Utilization of Coke Oven Gas and Acetic Acid to Produce Ethanol and Their Industrial Application,” passed the evaluation of scientific and technological achievements. The experts present agreed that the project’s technologies possess independent intellectual property rights, and that the overall technical level is at the leading stage in China ； Secondly, the product quality is excellent; the anhydrous ethanol produced this time has a purity of 99.98%. Its quality exceeds the analytical purity standards specified in GB/T678-2002 \"Ethanol (Anhydrous Ethanol) – Chemical Reagents\", as well as the standards set out in GB18350-2013 \"Denatured Fuel Ethanol\", meeting the quality requirements of all industries that utilize anhydrous ethanol ； Thirdly, the cost of consumption is low; new catalysts have been developed, achieving a conversion rate of over 99% and a selectivity as high as 99%. It is reported that this project offers significant economic benefits, with the ethanol produced costing an average of over 20% less than that produced using grain-based methods. Ethanol, as a clean energy source, is added to gasoline to produce ethanol-blended gasoline, and this practice has been widely adopted and promoted in countries such as the United States, Brazil, and Europe. The United States produces 42.66 million tons of fuel ethanol each year, while Brazil produces 17.44 million tons. Previously, China faced the issue of competition with food production due to traditional food fermentation methods, which restricted the development of fuel ethanol; currently, the output used for fuel ethanol amounts to only 2.6 million tons. In recent years, breakthroughs in coal-to-ethanol technology have enabled its industrial development, and it is set to become a clean energy source and the next focus of development in the coal chemical industry. What is particularly commendable is that the project also brings positive social benefits; once fully operational, it will generate sales revenue of 2.5 billion yuan, with annual profits and taxes amounting to 450 million yuan. Making efficient use of coke oven gas to produce ethanol transforms waste into a valuable resource, helps protect the environment, and increases the added value of coke oven gas; it is an item that falls under Category 8, Item 2 of the **National Development and Reform Commission’s Guidelines for Industrial Structure Adjustment, and is considered a project worthy of encouragement ； Non-grain ethanol helps address the issue of competition with food crops for land use; it saves 900,000 tons of grain each year, thereby contributing to **food security ； Ethanol contains up to 34.7% oxygen; if gasoline contains 10% ethanol, its oxygen content can reach 3.5%, which enables more complete combustion of the gasoline and increases its octane rating. This reduces PM2.5 emissions in exhaust gases by 40%, as well as CO and hydrocarbons by over 30%, thereby lowering harmful emissions from vehicles and contributing to the mitigation of smog ； By-product natural gas provides clean energy and helps optimize the **energy structure. The image shows Zhang Jun, a senior executive at a globally leading chemical company and one of the Fortune 500 companies, delivering a keynote speech. Photo by Chen Ru: Leaders and guests visiting the premises of Zhongrong Technology Company. Photographed by Chen Ru. At the launch ceremony, Secretary Zhang Shuyun of the Qian’an Municipal Party Committee highly praised Zhongrong Technology for its achievements in making efficient use of coke oven gas and turning waste into valuable resources. She believed that this project would surely accelerate the transition of Qian’an’s coal chemical industry from extensive development to refined processing; it contributed to the adjustment and upgrading of Qian’an’s overall industrial structure, supported environmental protection efforts in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, and helped to reduce air pollution effectively. Ms. Dai Shumei, chairman of Zhongrong Technology, presented information on the project and explained the positive role of ethanol-blended gasoline in reducing vehicle exhaust emissions and addressing smog. Due to concerns over food security, the promotion of ethanol-blended gasoline in China has been limited. This project boasts a significant cost advantage, with the cost of the new process being 25% lower than that of the traditional grain method. China is rich in coal resources, and the acetic acid industry has long been facing overcapacity. This project brings positive social benefits by providing a source of cheap ethanol for the further promotion of ethanol-blended gasoline. Zhongrong Technology will help adjust the industrial structure in Qian’an in order to achieve sustained and rapid economic growth. Mr. Yang Chunhui, Deputy General Manager of Zhongrong Technology, said at the commissioning ceremony that the company is at the world’s leading level in the field of non-grain ethanol production; as early as 2013, it put into operation China’s first industrially-scale demonstration plant for coal-based ethanol developed through independent research. The project put into operation by Zhongrong Technology boasts advantages over other current coal-based ethanol production processes, including lower investment costs, a mature technology, high product quality, and significant economic benefits. Customer representatives highly praised Zhongrong Technology’s ability to achieve a product quality of 99.98%. Mr. Zhang Guohong, Secretary-General of the Alcohol Branch of the China Alcoholic Drinks Association, spoke about the huge market potential for fuel ethanol, arguing that Zhongrong Technology’s advancements in this field provide sufficient clean energy for the development of the fuel ethanol industry in China, helping to meet the demand for ethanol-based gasoline, addressing the issue of competition with food crops for land use, and achieving a balance between economic and social benefits while promoting sustainable economic development. Finally, the guests visited the site of the world’s first project for producing ethanol from coke oven gas, as well as the planning exhibition hall in Qian’an City. In recent years, while accelerating its transformation and development, Qianan City has stepped up efforts to improve the environment. A number of projects with significant environmental benefits have been launched and put into operation, including the second phase of the Feiji LNG project, which is the largest of its kind in China for converting coke oven gas into LNG, as well as the NeoEnergy project for converting coke oven gas into LNG with a total investment of 500 million yuan. Once completed, these projects will enable the complete recycling of coke oven gas, resulting in substantial reductions in air pollutants such as sulfur dioxide and dust.