[Haichuan Chemical Salary News] Lutianhua and BASF collaborate to develop dimethyl ether production from syngas
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On the evening of June 18, Lutianhua issued a supplementary announcement regarding abnormal fluctuations in stock trading. The company is set to sign a memorandum of cooperation with BASF China Co., Ltd. in the near future to develop a new process for producing dimethyl ether from syngas; this project will help improve resource utilization and enhance energy efficiency. Although this memorandum of cooperation has been signed, there is still uncertainty as to whether a formal cooperation agreement will be concluded, and there is a risk of failure in the research and development efforts involved.
It is understood that on June 18, BASF signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation with Sichuan Lutianhua Co., Ltd. (referred to as “Lutianhua”), aiming to jointly establish a pilot production facility. The goal is to significantly reduce carbon emissions during the synthesis of dimethyl ether through new processes, thereby improving energy efficiency. Dimethyl ether is an intermediate for producing low olefins such as ethylene and propylene. According to the memorandum, Lutianhua will invest in building a test facility that uses a new process jointly developed by BASF and Linde Group; BASF will supply a new high-performance catalyst system to enable one-step conversion of syngas into dimethyl ether. Linde will provide equipment design and process engineering services for the direct synthesis of dimethyl ether. Currently, the production of dimethyl ether from syngas still requires an intermediate step of synthesizing methanol. Construction of this testing facility will begin in 2020. The open innovation collaboration platform provided by the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation helped facilitate this cooperation project. Li Shousheng, president of the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation, said, “The purpose of establishing an open innovation cooperation platform is to continuously make new breakthroughs in core technologies, thereby achieving high-quality development and transformation and upgrading within the industry.” The cooperation project between BASF and Lutianhua is a great example of this. ”
Dimethyl ether is a flammable gas. Mixing with air can form an explosive mixture. It is prone to combustion and explosion upon contact with heat, sparks, flames, or oxidizers. When exposed to air or light, it can form peroxides with potential explosive hazards; these peroxides are denser than air and can spread over considerable distances at lower levels, and they will catch fire and reignite in the presence of a source of ignition. In the event of high temperatures, the pressure inside the container increases, posing a risk of cracking and explosion. It is primarily used as a methylating agent in the production of dimethyl sulfate, and can also be used to synthesize N,N-diamines, methyl acetate, acetic anhydride, ethyl dimethyl ether, and ethylene ； It can also be used as an alkylating agent, refrigerant, foaming agent, solvent, leaching agent, extractant, **drug, fuel, a substitute for household blended ethanol, and a substitute for Freon aerosols. Used in hair care, skin care, pharmaceuticals, and coatings as a propellant for various aerosols. Fuel additives promoted abroad have many unique applications in the pharmaceutical, dye, and pesticide industries.
Is it possible to overtake on curves? There are too many syngas projects in China