Lu’an, Shanxi Coal Chemical Research Institute, and Zhuoxin Wanfeng hold a seminar on the research and development and industrialization of methane-to-ethylene technology

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Lu’an Group, the Shanxi Institute of Coal Chemistry, and Zhejiang Sumitomo Chemical held a meeting to discuss the research and development as well as industrialization of methane-to-ethylene technology. Author/Source: Compiled and published by the Nitrogen Fertilizer and Methanol Technology Network of Lu’an Group. Date: May 5, 2019. Clicks: 652. From April 30 to May 1, a meeting on the research and development and industrial application of methane-to-ethylene technology was held in Taiyuan by Lu’an Group, the Shanxi Institute of Coal Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Zhejiang Sumitomo Chemical. Liu Junyi, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and General Manager of Lu’an Group; Fang Yitian, Deputy Director of the Institute of Coal Chemistry at the Chinese Academy of Sciences; and David Watson, Manager of Engineering Technology Research, Development and Scale-up at Johnson Matthey, attended the meeting. During the negotiation session, a doctor from the Shanxi Coal Chemistry Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences provided a detailed introduction to the research and development of OCM (ethylene production via methane oxidation coupling) reactors as well as the process development. The three parties discussed on-site various aspects related to the technical application of OCM (ethylene production via methane oxidation coupling). Liu Junyi said that the Shanxi Coal Chemistry Research Institute is the only professional research institute under the Chinese Academy of Sciences that focuses on coal chemistry as its area of study. Luan Group is a large state-owned enterprise under provincial jurisdiction that focuses on the development of coal and coal chemical industries. Over the past 20 years, the Shanxi Coal Chemistry Research Institute has developed a strong friendship with Luan Group, forming a solid partnership. Many advanced technologies developed by the Shanxi Coal Chemistry Research Institute have been widely applied at Luan Group, contributing to the company’s growth and success. Suncor Industries is a globally renowned chemical company with a history of over 200 years, boasting particular strengths in the field of catalysts. Liu Junyi hopes that, taking this negotiation meeting as an opportunity, the three parties can continue to strengthen communication and exchanges, lay a solid foundation for future project collaborations, and further achieve mutual benefit through cooperation. After the meeting, the three parties jointly visited the Key Laboratory of Coal Conversion at the Shanxi Institute of Coal Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences. It is reported that the OCM (methane oxidation coupling for ethylene production) technology was developed jointly by Lu’an Group and the Shanxi Coal Chemistry Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It offers a new approach for producing ethylene using natural gas as a substitute for other raw materials, and natural gas boasts advantages such as abundant availability and relatively low cost. Due to the stable structure of methane and its high activation temperature, as well as the fact that the reaction products, ethylene and ethane, are prone to further deep oxidation, the selective activation and directed conversion of methane represent a world-class challenge. OCM (ethylene production via methane oxidation coupling) technology enables the production of ethylene in a single step: methane is directly converted into ethylene through a catalytic reaction in an oxygen-rich atmosphere. This process is simple and efficient, and it has been a focus of research in the fields of catalysis and natural gas chemistry. It is regarded as the \"Holy Grail\" of the chemical industry and the \"crown of catalysis\"; it represents a disruptive technology with broad application prospects. Its production cost is 30% lower than that of the current methanol-to-olefins (MTO) method, giving it a significant competitive advantage in the MTO market. To date, 7 Chinese invention patents have been applied for this technology.