Thread Content
The Lu’an CO₂ reforming project for producing 200,000 tons per year of fuel ethanol from industrial waste gases is advancing steadily. Author/Source: Yaha Coal Chemicals. Date: 2020-01-07. Clicks: 23. In 2018, Shanxi Lu’an Group took advantage of strategic shifts, transformation of driving forces, and industrial restructuring as key measures to embark on a new path toward high-quality development as a clean energy enterprise with international competitiveness. Lu’an Group and Jupeng Biology signed a strategic cooperation agreement to invest 250 million yuan in building a facility for the reprocessing of industrial exhaust gas using CO2, with the aim of producing 200,000 tons per year of fuel ethanol (with a pilot project capacity of 20,000 tons per year in the first phase). This project utilizes the bacterial fermentation technology for fuel ethanol production, which is covered by Ju Peng Bio’s proprietary intellectual property. It makes use of the waste gases generated by Lu’an Coal-based Synthetic Oil Co., Ltd. to synthesize ethanol efficiently, with high selectivity and at normal temperatures. Fuel ethanol is then produced through distillation and dehydration processes, thereby enabling effective reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, comprehensive utilization of waste gases, and production of clean fuels. Huang Kaihua, the project leader, explained that the project under construction is the first-phase demonstration facility with an annual production capacity of 20,000 tons. Construction began in January 2019, and it is expected to be ready for trial operation by May 2020, enabling the production of the first batch of fuel ethanol in the province. “At present, the exhaust gases from the facilities of Lu’an Coal-based Synthetic Oil Co., Ltd. are mostly released directly into the atmosphere for combustion; once the fuel ethanol project is completed, these exhaust gases will be turned into valuable resources and utilized to the fullest extent possible. ”Huang Kaihua said proudly that the fuel ethanol they produce can be used in the formulation of E10 gasoline for vehicles, while the by-product, bacterial residue, is converted into feed protein, making it a low-carbon, green, and environmentally friendly solution. According to relevant documents, starting from January 2020, Shanxi Province will fully implement the use of ethanol-blended gasoline for vehicles. At present, Shanxi Province consumes over 4 million tons of gasoline per year, which requires 400,000 tons of fuel ethanol as a supplement; thus, there is a significant shortage of fuel ethanol in the province. Using waste exhaust gas as a resource to produce clean fuel ethanol not only allows for the maximum utilization of industrial waste exhaust gas, but also helps to meet the province’s demand for fuel ethanol, thereby contributing to environmental protection and sustainable development. “Jupeng Biotechnology achieves a carbon monoxide conversion rate of over 90% and an ethanol selectivity of over 98%, with processes that are at the international forefront. ”Huang Kaihua told reporters that about 10 billion cubic meters of coke oven gas and industrial waste gases go unused in our province each year. By using this technology, it is possible to produce around 2 million tons of fuel ethanol per year from these gases, which can not only meet the local demand but also supply neighboring provinces as well. It is understood that once the first phase of the project is completed and put into operation, it will generate an annual output value of 150 million yuan, yield profits and taxes amounting to 30 million yuan, and create more than 200 job opportunities. “At present, the second phase of the project is also being advanced actively. Once the entire project is completed and put into operation, Lu’an Group will be the first in the province to implement a demonstration of clean bioethanol fuel, serving as a model for multi-faceted applications. ”Huang Kaihua said that while making every effort to accelerate the construction of these projects, they will also promote them in other regions simultaneously, so as to maximize the value of these advanced technologies and bring greater economic, environmental, and social benefits to our province as well as the surrounding provinces.