New catalytic technology using nanomolecular sieves to produce BTX from low-carbon hydrocarbons such as LPG. Dalian University of Technology – Guo Hongchen (Professor, PhD supervisor). I. Technical overview: The aromatization process invented by Professor Guo Hongchen of Dalian University of Technology, which relies on novel nanomolecular sieve catalysts as its core technology, utilizes constant-pressure fixed-bed reactors that can be switched between different operating modes. Under non-hydrogenous conditions, users can use LPG (light hydrocarbons, condensate oil, cut oil, residual oil, C5 hydrocarbons, etc.) as raw material to choose between producing aromatics or clean gasoline in the same facility, without the need to replace the catalyst. The operational cycle per batch is at least 1 month, and the catalyst’s lifespan can reach 2 years. It has been operating successfully on the 100,000 tons per year production facility of Shandong Qiwangda Group Haizhong Chemical Co., Ltd. for over two years, during which extensive production data and practical experience have been accumulated. The first industrial plant with an annual capacity of 100,000 tons has been put into operation at Haizhong Petrochemical Co., Ltd. of Shandong Qiwanda Group. 1. Introduction to the production mode of the Nano-forming process. Aromatic hydrocarbons production mode: ★ Main products: benzene, toluene, and xylene. ★ By-products: hydrogen and C9+ heavy aromatics, with a liquid yield of at least 55%. ★ Secondary products: liquefied petroleum gas for use in vehicles, and dry gases (methane, ethane, ethylene). ★ Key process conditions: atmospheric pressure, with reaction temperatures ranging from 500°C to 600°C. Gasoline production mode: ★ Main product: clean gasoline that meets Euro IV and Euro V standards, with an RON value of 96; the gasoline yield is approximately 50%. ★ By-product: butane liquefied petroleum gas. ★ Key process conditions: atmospheric pressure, with reaction temperatures ranging from 350°C to 450°C. II. Market prospects. Market prospects for the Nano-forming process: Demand for products: ★ Benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX) are essential raw materials in the organic chemical industry. Currently, China’s annual consumption of aromatics has exceeded 15 million tons, making it a net importer of ‘triphenyls’. In recent years, driven by rapid economic growth, China’s demand for aromatics has maintained a high growth rate of over 10%. ★ Currently, China’s gasoline consumption has also exceeded 60 million tons per year. With the rapid increase in the number of cars, China’s demand for gasoline will also continue to rise in the future. Traditional production processes for aromatics and gasoline and their limitations: ★ BTX is primarily obtained through steam cracking to produce ethylene and via precious metal platinum reforming; the raw materials used in these processes are the light fractions of oil (naphtha). ★ In China, gasoline is mainly produced using catalytic cracking (FCC) units, with the raw materials being the heavy fractions of oil. ★ To increase the production of aromatics and gasoline under the current production model, China can only address future shortages of chemical raw materials and fuels by continuously raising its crude oil processing capacity. This is a severe challenge for large developing countries that rely on large amounts of imported crude oil. Economic feasibility of the LPG-based process for producing aromatics and gasoline: ★ China is a major country in catalytic cracking. In 2007, national refineries processed 327 million tons of crude oil, with LPG production reaching 17.8 million tons. At present, a large amount of excess liquefied petroleum gas is primarily used as a domestic fuel, resulting in astonishing waste of petroleum resources. ★Due to the rapid increase in LPG prices, some users have turned to other energy sources, continuing to put pressure on demand for LPG. In particular, with the completion and operation of the main gas transmission pipelines for the West-to-East Gas Project, the proportion among urban gas users dropped from 65% in 2001 to 58%. It created conditions for the chemical utilization of LPG. ★The Nano-forming process is based on the highly market-oriented use of liquefied gas resources to produce triphenyl and gasoline, and it offers significant economic and social benefits. Compared to carbon-based resources such as natural gas, liquefied gas has a longer carbon chain and higher chemical reactivity, making it more economical for use in the chemical industry. The market prospects for the raw materials and products of the nano-forming process are equally promising. Light aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX) are widely used in synthetic fibers, synthetic resins, synthetic rubbers, and various fine chemicals. Toluene and xylene are also important blending components in the production of high-octane gasoline. It is predicted that between 2005 and 2010, the average annual growth rates for global demand for benzene, toluene, and xylene will be 4.4%, 3–4%, and 5.4%, respectively, while in China, the growth rates for these substances during the same period will be as high as 16%, 8.2%, and 19.1%, respectively. In recent years, due to the rapid development of downstream products derived from aromatics, demand for these compounds in both domestic and international markets has continued to rise. China has now become a net importer of ‘triphenyl’ compounds. In the future, China will face an annual deficit of 2 million tons of benzene, 1 million tons of toluene, and 2.3–3 million tons of xylene. Currently, BTX mainly comes from the reformation of precious metal platinum and the steam cracking process for producing ethylene. Due to the limited supply of high-aromatic naphtha resources in our country, the use of the platinum reforming process to produce BTX is greatly restricted there. On the other hand, during the 11th Five-Year Plan period, although China planned a number of ethylene production facilities using steam cracking, the BTX yield of the steam cracking process for ethylene production was limited. Therefore, in our country, actively exploring new ways to increase aromatic hydrocarbon production is of great significance for supporting the sustainable development of the national economy. Table 6 Distribution of products resulting from the aromatization of light hydrocarbon resources in the Liaohe Oil Field using nanomolecular sieve catalysts. Gas products, m%; Liquid products, m%. Calculation parameters: % H2, CH4, C2H4, C2H6, C3H6, C3H8, C4, C5+. Non-aromatic compounds, Benzene, Toluene, C8 aromatic compounds, C9+ aromatic compounds, Light aromatics (BTX). Yields: Total aromatic yield, Liquid yield, Liquefied gas. 20.97, 3.68, 20.97, 3.78, 40.12, 10.48, 6.90, 22.21, 42.37, 21.61, 6.91, 47.03, 50.80, 54.56. White condensate: 24.20, 9.61, 26.91, 6.50, 23.47, 9.31, 7.46, 23.26, 41.14, 21.31, 6.83, 53.25, 50.0, 62.13. Naphtha: 32.03, 3.88, 32.33, 3.31, 24.76, 3.69, 16.88, 21.78, 35.95, 18.18, 7.21, 69.81, 76.44, 91.96. Light naphtha (FBP)