How to develop downstream products of methanol

The first is the methanol-olefin industry chain. Using coal-derived methanol as raw material, and by introducing key technologies for the production of olefins from methanol that have been developed jointly by entities such as foreign companies specializing in methanol-to-propylene production, Shaanxi Xinxing Coal Chemical Technology Company, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, and Luoyang Petrochemical Engineering Company, efforts are focused on developing downstream processed products such as ethylene, propylene, polyethylene, polypropylene, acrylic acid and its esters, and butyl octanol, thereby creating a model coal chemical industry chain for methanol-to-olefins conversion. The second is the methanol-fuel dimethyl ether industry chain. By adopting advanced technologies such as the synthesis of dimethyl ether, large-scale production of dimethyl ether is achieved. Dimethyl ether is developed as a fuel for domestic use and as a substitute for diesel. Demonstration projects for the establishment of distribution systems for domestic dimethyl ether and fueling systems for vehicles using dimethyl ether are carried out in certain market areas, thereby creating a methanol–dimethyl ether fuel industry chain with a certain scale advantage. Third is the methanol–C1 chemical industry chain. By adopting the carbonylation process for acetic acid production, efforts will be focused on developing downstream products such as acetic acid, acetic anhydride, vinyl acetate, formaldehyde, polyformaldehyde, urea-formaldehyde resin, and EVA resin. Downstream facilities that are commensurate with the scale of the methanol production plants will be constructed, thereby creating a methanol-based chemical industry chain of considerable scale. Fourth is the methanol-fuel industry chain. By using methanol blended with gasoline (such as M15, etc.) or employing it directly as a vehicle fuel (M100), this new energy alternative of methanol gasoline is being actively promoted to establish a methanol-fuel industry chain on a certain scale.

There are many downstream products of methanol, but the specific types of downstream products that will be developed depend on the following factors: (1) It is related to the regional demand for those downstream products； (2) It is related to the enterprise’s methanol production capacity; if it is a small or medium-sized methanol manufacturer, it can opt for the fine chemicals category ； For large methanol manufacturers, it is possible to choose products that are available in larger quantities in order to reduce the company’s risks ； (3) It is related to the environmental capacity of the region in question. Generally speaking, most downstream products of methanol belong to the fine chemicals category, and they pose a significant threat to the environment; therefore, they are not suitable for areas with limited environmental capacity. From my perspective, methanol does not have a high added value; only by moving downstream can higher added value be created, but the risks borne by enterprises are also greater.