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Fixed-bed cobalt-based FTO synthesis technology passes scientific and technological achievement appraisal. Author/Source: Sinochem News Network. Date: December 29, 2021. Clicks: 14. On December 18, the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation organized experts in Beijing to conduct a scientific and technological achievement appraisal of the “fixed-bed cobalt-based FTO synthesis catalyst for producing high-melting-point waxes, along with a pilot-scale production facility of 300 tons per year,” developed by the Beijing Institute of Low-Carbon Clean Energy. An appraisal committee composed of experts from China Tianchen Engineering Co., Ltd., China Huanyu Engineering Co., Ltd., the Petroleum and Chemical Industry Planning Institute, Sinopec Research Institute of Petrochemical Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, and Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology conducted an evaluation of this technology. The experts unanimously agreed that it is highly innovative, its technology is at an international advanced level, and it has broad application prospects; they recommended that its promotion and application be accelerated. ““The fixed-bed cobalt-based Fischer-Tropsch synthesis technology for producing high-melting-point waxes” is a new technology developed by the Low-Carbon Research Institute for the production of high-value chemicals from coal. It represents the latest achievement of this institute’s research efforts aimed at advancing coal chemical technology in terms of higher sophistication, greater diversity, and lower carbon emissions. This technology is suitable not only for the high-value conversion and utilization of large-scale coal and natural gas feedstocks, but also for the conversion of small-scale feedstocks such as natural gas, coke oven gas, calcium carbide furnace off-gases, shale gas, and biomass-based syngas. The high-melting-point paraffin aromatics produced using this technology have extremely low levels of metal impurities (at the ppb level), and the products meet food-grade standards. Such high-melting-point wax products are widely used in the processing of polyolefins and PVC, as well as in hot melt adhesives (such as EVA wax), dyes, inks, cosmetics, electronics, and the aerospace industry. Furthermore, this high-melting-point wax can be further processed to produce heavy lubricant base oils used in fans and heavy machinery, as well as food-grade white oils and other products. Technology boasts the dual advantages of high added value for products and a long industrial chain. The fixed-bed cobalt-based Fischer-Tropsch synthesis technology used to produce such high-melting-point waxes has long been monopolized by foreign companies, which do not transfer this technology to domestic firms. The coal chemical technology R&D team at the Low-Carbon Institute has made breakthrough innovations in new cobalt-based catalysts and core reaction process technologies. They have successfully developed a complete set of technologies, enabling the scale-up of the catalysts from the laboratory to industrial-scale facilities, and completed pilot tests using a pilot plant with a capacity of 300 tons per year. Pilot test results show that the syngas consumption per ton of product using this technology is less than 5,700 Nm3, the drip melting point of the crude wax product is above 110°C, and the wax oil ratio in the product is greater than 5.0. The core catalyst in terms of technology exhibits strong resistance to fluctuations during the production process, low selectivity for the by-product methane, and high selectivity for waxes with high melting points. The technology has reached international advanced levels in key indicators such as raw material utilization rate, wax product selectivity, and space-time yield. The breakthroughs achieved in the development of this technology will provide a new approach for the clean, efficient, and high-value utilization of raw materials such as coal and coke oven gas in our country. It will also further enhance our country’s overall technical capabilities in the field of coal chemical technology.