Methanol to Olefins (DMTO) Technology | Progress on the Achievements of Phase 1 of “Taking the Lead”

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DMTO Technology for Olefin Production | Progress on the First Phase of the “Take the Lead” Initiative Author/Source: Modern Coal Chemical Industry Date: 2020-08-12 Clicks: 1 Since the implementation of the “Take the Lead” initiative in 2014, the Chinese Academy of Sciences has followed the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, earnestly implementing the requirements of “three orientations” and “four leads” put forward by the Party. It has treated the implementation of this initiative as an important political and scientific task, achieving significant progress and notable results in areas such as scientific and technological innovation, the development of high-level innovative talent pools, the creation of top-tier scientific think tanks, and the establishment of first-class research institutions. The objectives set for the first phase of this initiative have been fully accomplished, playing a leading role in China’s efforts to become an innovative country and a strong science and technology nation, and laying a solid foundation for achieving the “four leads” goals by 2030. Based on a systematic review of the numerous scientific and technological achievements from the first phase of the \"Take the Lead\" initiative, the Chinese Academy of Sciences identified 59 major scientific and technological achievements and landmark advancements in line with the principle of \"three orientations\". “\"Voice of the Chinese Academy of Sciences\" has launched a special section titled \"Progress on the Achievements of the First Phase of ‘Taking the Lead in Action’\" to introduce the relevant progress. Today, I will introduce to you the “Methanol-to-Olefins (DMTO) technology,” which is designed for use in the main frontiers of the national economy. Methanol-to-olefins is a key core technology for producing ethylene and propylene from coal. The methanol-to-olefins (DMTO) technology developed by the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics was the first in the world to undergo industrial trials and be put into commercial use, resulting in a set of technologies that are leader-level on the international stage. Since 2014, continuous progress has been made in the commercialization of results and the development of new technologies. DMTO and DMTO-Ⅱ have newly signed 6 technology licensing agreements, put 12 units into operation, and generated a cumulative output value of nearly 500 billion yuan. A new generation of catalysts and the third-generation methanol-to-olefins (DMTO-III) technology have been developed. The catalysts have been put into industrial use in 4 production facilities, while for DMTO-III, technology licensing agreements have been signed for 5 industrial plants with an annual output capacity of 1 million tons of olefins, and construction of these plants has already begun. DMTO technology and its continuous development have contributed to the rapid formation and growth of China’s coal-to-olefins industry, effectively facilitating the optimization of the structure of this industry. It holds great significance for achieving coordinated development between the petrochemical and coal chemical industries as well as for ensuring energy security. In 2014, the world’s first set of DMTO-II industrial plants with an annual capacity of 600,000 tons for producing olefins was successfully put into operation in Pucheng, Shaanxi. In 2020, Ningxia Baofeng Group signed contracts for the technical licensing of 5 sets of DMTO-III industrial plants with an annual capacity of 1 million tons each. The entity responsible for this work was the Institute of Clean Energy Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences (Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics)