Why hasn’t coal-based ethylene glycol kept up with its applications?

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Why hasn’t coal-based ethylene glycol kept up with its applications? Author/Source: Date: 2017-10-13 Clicks: 4 It is well known in the industry that coal-based ethylene glycol products can affect the quality of polyester fibers, so they cannot be used in polyester fibers 100% of the time. Although it is not too late, this still exposes the issue of a disconnect between research and development and practical application in the field of coal chemical industry, and it also serves as experience and a lesson in the process of developing new chemical products and materials. Since the first domestic coal-based ethylene glycol plant came online in 2009, there has been a tendency toward impatience in the promotion and adoption of this technology; once a successful production facility was established, there was an eagerness to transfer it to others, and in some cases, technologies that were still in the laboratory stage were rushed to be introduced to the market. It is understandable to want to promote ahead of time in order to prevent customers from leaving, but acting in such a hurry is clearly inappropriate. The scientific approach should be to conduct long-term operation assessments, evaluations, and summaries after the first set of demonstration units goes into operation, in order to identify and resolve issues promptly. The issues here are not only those related to devices that affect the stable operation of equipment and processes, but more importantly, they are the problems that arise when the products are used in downstream applications – such as whether they enable the downstream products to meet quality standards and whether they possess cost competitiveness, among other things. Only in this way can technical flaws be continuously eliminated and the design optimized. Only by making every effort to develop the demonstration units and obtain first-hand data, using it to make improvements and enhance the applicability of the technology, can the pace of dissemination be accelerated. However, in recent years, companies involved in the development and production of coal-based ethylene glycol have been avoiding discussion of the impact of this substance on polyester fibers, and have tried various ways to prove that it can be used 100% in polyester fibers. But it is ultimately the users who have the final say on whether the product quality is good or not. Therefore, research institutions, engineering companies, and manufacturing enterprises involved in the development of coal-based ethylene glycol technology should calm down and adopt a spirit of willingness to endure hardships. Focusing on the parameters that may affect the quality of downstream products such as polyester fibers, they should start with basic research and examine various aspects related to coal-based ethylene glycol, including catalysts, production processes, equipment, and product separation. By systematically analyzing the underlying principles and engineering aspects, they can identify the causes of impurities and find solutions, thereby providing technical support for 100% or high-level utilization of this technology and overcoming the barriers that hinder its further development. There are many other examples of similar cases where applied research was inadequate. For example, before industrial facilities for polydimethyl methoxymethane were built, relevant companies made claims that it could be added in amounts of around 40% to diesel without conducting proper research. After applying it, it was only after considering the combustion effects and cost-efficiency that it was discovered that a maximum of 15% could be added. Another example is dimethyl carbonate, touted as the \"green solvent of the 21st century\"; once it went into production, it failed to demonstrate its unique advantages as a substitute, and the industry has remained sluggish due to overcapacity. Technical research is divided into basic research and applied research. The development of a new product requires mastering the technical principles through basic research, followed by verification using industrial-scale facilities, and then actual application of the product; these steps are interconnected and necessary in order to enable mass production over time. Basic research and applied research influence and promote each other. When problems arise in the application of a product, it is necessary to identify the issues at the basic research stage, so as to ensure the smooth industrialization of the new product. Solving the impurity problems associated with coal-based ethylene glycol requires collaborative efforts from experts in catalysts, equipment, polyesters, and other related fields. This also shows the need for interdisciplinary integration of fields such as chemistry, materials science, and physics, which serves as a key link connecting fundamental research and applied research. New product development must integrate multiple disciplines to succeed. The practices of large foreign companies in this area are worth learning from. They give the newly developed products away for free to the users, with the aim of obtaining genuine feedback from end-users, such as in what areas the products are primarily used, and what advantages they offer in terms of cost-performance compared to ordinary products. Although this scientific approach may seem to be slower in terms of capturing market share, it creates a positive feedback loop that ultimately accelerates the process of product development and technology dissemination. It is hoped that coal-based ethylene glycol manufacturers and other coal chemical enterprises will, in the process of developing new products, determine the direction of their technical research with an emphasis on engineering applications and market needs. This helps to improve the focus of outcomes and the success rate of translating them into practical results, it aids in defining the market position of new products, and enhances their competitiveness in the market.