Approval comments on the environmental impact assessment document for the coal-based ethylene glycol production project of Kailuan Chemical in Inner Mongolia

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Opinions on the Approval of the Environmental Impact Assessment Document for Inner Mongolia Kailuan Chemical’s Coal-based Ethylene Glycol Production Project Author/Source: Coal Chemical Industry 114 Forum Date: April 9, 2020 Clicks: 13 In accordance with the relevant regulations regarding the approval process for environmental impact assessments of construction projects, after review, on April 3, 2020, the Ordos Environmental Protection Bureau intended to issue its opinions on the environmental impact assessment document for Inner Mongolia Kailuan Chemical’s 400,000-ton/year coal-based ethylene glycol production project. To ensure the seriousness and fairness of this review process, the basic information regarding the environmental impact assessment documents for which approval is to be granted is being made public. The period of public disclosure begins on April 3, 2020, and lasts for (5 working days). Project Name: 400,000 tons/year coal-based ethylene glycol project of Inner Mongolia Kailuan Chemical Co., Ltd.
Location: Inner Mongolia Dalu Industrial Park, Zhungeer Banner, Ordos City
Constructor: Inner Mongolia Kailuan Chemical Co., Ltd.
Environmental Assessment Agency: Inner Mongolia Huankeyuan Environmental Technology Co., Ltd.
Basic Project Information: The production capacity of this project for coal-based ethylene glycol is 400,000 tons per year. This includes one air separation unit with an oxygen production capacity of 70,000 Nm3/h, two Jinhua-type coal-water slurry gasification furnaces with a capacity of 977 t/d each (producing approximately 118,046 Nm3/h of gas), gas purification and separation units that generate approximately 39,694 Nm3/h of CO and 77,052 Nm3/h of H2, an 860,000 tons/year dimethyl oxalate production unit, and two sets of production facilities for ethylene glycol. Pollution prevention and control measures and emission status: The waste gas generated in the coal preparation section is treated before being emitted, in compliance with the corresponding standard limits specified in the \"Integrated Emission Standards for Air Pollutants\" (GB16297-96). The exhaust gas emissions from the gas processing section are subject to the secondary standards specified in the \"Emission Standards for Odorous Pollutants\" (GB14554-93). The exhaust gas from the low-temperature methanol washing unit, after treatment, is discharged in accordance with the special emission limits specified in the \"Emission Standards for Pollutants in the Petrochemical Industry\" (GB31571-2015) as well as the corresponding standard limits set out in the \"Emission Standards for Odorous Pollutants\" (GB14554-93). The exhaust gas from the sulfur recovery unit, after treatment, is discharged in accordance with the corresponding standard limits specified in the \"Integrated Emission Standards for Air Pollutants\" (GB16297-96). The exhaust gas from the ethylene glycol production unit, after treatment, is discharged in accordance with the special emission limits specified in the \"Emission Standards for Pollutants in the Petrochemical Industry\" (GB31571-2015). The emissions from boiler flue gas after treatment must comply with the emission limits specified in the \"Emission Standards for Air Pollutants from Thermal Power Plants\" (GB13223-2011) as well as the ultra-low emission standards set out in the \"Plan for the Full Implementation of Ultra-Low Emission and Energy-Saving Transformations in Coal-Fired Power Plants\" (Huan Fa [2015] No. 164); that is, under a baseline oxygen content of 6%, the emission concentrations of dust, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides shall not exceed 10, 35, and 50 mg/m3 respectively. For mercury emissions, the special emission limits for air pollutants from coal-fired boilers listed in Table 2 of the \"Emission Standards for Air Pollutants from Thermal Power Plants\" (GB13223-2011) apply, while for NH3, the \"General Technical Specifications for Ammonia-Based Flue Gas Desulfurization Projects\" (HJ2001-2018) are applicable. The emission standards for exhaust gases from the ammonium sulfate recovery unit comply with the corresponding limit values specified in the \"Integrated Emission Standards for Air Pollutants\" (GB16297-96). The exhaust gas from the sewage treatment plant is collected, treated, and discharged in accordance with the special emission limits specified in Table 5 of the \"Emission Standards for Pollutants in the Petrochemical Industry\" (GB31571-2015), as well as the corresponding standard limits set out in the \"Emission Standards for Odorous Pollutants\" (GB14554-93). The exhaust gas from the tank farm and liquid loading/unloading areas is discharged after treatment in accordance with the special emission limits specified in the \"Emission Standards for Pollutants in the Petrochemical Industry\" (GB31571-2015) as well as the corresponding standard limits set out in the \"Emission Standards for Odorous Pollutants\" (GB14554-93). Strengthen control measures for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), malodors, and toxic and harmful gases to effectively curb unorganized emissions. Establish a leakage detection and repair system. For the unorganized emissions of non-methane total hydrocarbons at the plant boundary, the standards specified in Table 7 of the \"Emission Standards for Pollutants in the Petrochemical Industry\" (GB31571-2015) shall be applied; for particulate emissions, the limits set out in the \"Comprehensive Emission Standards for Air Pollutants\" (GB16297-96) shall be followed. The concentrations of NH3, H2S, and odorous gases shall meet the standard values specified in the \"Emission Standards for Odorous Pollutants\" (GB14554-93) for the plant boundary. Transform the condensate to supply vaporization and make-up water. Gasified graywater, low-temperature methanol washing wastewater, acidic condensate, wastewater from the methanol dehydration tower in the DMO distillation unit, wastewater from the ethylene glycol off-gas scrubber, domestic sewage, water used for cleaning equipment and floors, as well as unforeseen wastewater streams, flare water seal water, and tank cleaning water are all sent to the wastewater treatment plant. This plant uses an \"IMC + advanced treatment (anoxic + aerobic two-stage biological filters)\\" process. The wastewater from the sewage treatment plant, as well as the wastewater from the gasification reactor, shift reactor, sulfur recovery reactor, DMO reactor, ethylene glycol synthesis tower drum, boilers, circulating water system, and desalination system, is sent back to the water reuse station. This station employs a pretreatment process that includes softening, high-efficiency sedimentation and filtration units, ultrafiltration, primary reverse osmosis, secondary reverse osmosis, and further secondary reverse osmosis. Once the treated water meets the quality standards specified in the \"Design Code for Industrial Circulating Cooling Water Treatment\" (GB/T 50050-2017) for water used as make-up water in open-loop circulating cooling systems, it can be reused as make-up water for such systems. The concentrated brine, on the other hand, is sent to membrane concentration and evaporation crystallization systems for further treatment. The concentrated brine membrane concentration treatment system employs a process that includes “chemical precipitation reaction + concentration + tubular ultrafiltration unit + ion exchange unit + nanofiltration unit + reverse osmosis unit + ED unit + evaporation crystallization unit + COD removal device + DTRO unit + freeze crystallization unit + mother liquor drying unit + mirabilite dehydration unit”. Once the effluent meets the water quality standards specified in the “Design Code for Industrial Circulating Cooling Water Treatment” (GB/T 50050-2017) for water used as make-up water in open-circuit circulating cooling systems, it can be reused as make-up water for such systems; meanwhile, the highly concentrated brine is sent to the evaporation crystallization unit for further treatment. The evaporation crystallization system adopts a \"two-effect counter-current forced-circulation segmented crystallization\" process. Vaporization slag, molecular sieve adsorbents from air separation units, and aluminum gel from air separation units are sent to the plant’s ash and slag disposal site ； Waste catalysts from conversion units, waste catalysts from filters in conversion units, alumina from primary Claus units, waste catalysts containing titanium oxide, waste alumina from secondary Claus units, ultra-high-efficiency Claus units, waste catalysts from hydrogenation processes, oxidized waste catalysts from super Claus units, waste adsorbents from molecular sieve adsorbers, waste adsorbents from PSA unit adsorption towers, waste catalysts from DMO units, waste ceramic balls from DMO units, DMO by-products, waste catalysts from ethylene glycol production units, waste ceramic balls from ethylene glycol production units, fusel oils, light fractions, molecular sieve adsorbents from air separation units, sludge from wastewater treatment plants, sludge from reclaimed water treatment plants, sludge from concentrated brine treatment plants, evaporated crystalline salts, waste resins from desalination units, wastewater treatment systems, waste catalysts from ozone oxidation processes, waste catalysts from catalytic oxidation in storage tanks, ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis membranes, packaging barrels and bags for waste catalysts, waste activated carbon from wastewater treatment plants, and waste catalysts from denitration processes are all considered hazardous waste and must be disposed of by qualified entities.