Thread Content
The first research project on the utilization of by-products from million-ton-scale direct coal liquefaction was launched. Author/Source: Huahua Net Coal Chemicals. Date: 2023-01-18. Clicks: 19. On January 10, the launching meeting for the pilot study on \"producing mesophase pitch from coal liquefaction residues\" carried out by China Shenhua Coal-to-Oil Chemicals Co., Ltd. under the **Energy Group**, was held at Beijing University of Chemical Technology. This project is one of the first initiatives launched by China Shenhua Coal-to-Oil Chemical Co., Ltd. to achieve breakthroughs in core technologies; it aims to solve the critical problem of finding efficient ways to make high-value use of the oil sludge, a byproduct of the world’s first million-ton-per-year coal direct liquefaction process. After stages such as the release of the list and expert review, this project was ultimately successfully awarded to a joint team from Beijing University of Chemical Technology, the Coal Science and Technology Research Institute, Dalian University of Technology, and the Shanxi Institute of Coal Chemistry under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Professor Qiu Jieshan, Dean of the School of Chemical Engineering at Beijing University of Chemical Technology, serves as the project leader. Wang Jianli, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and General Manager of China Shenhua Coal-to-Oil Chemical Co., Ltd., said that the goal of this project is to extend the industrial chain for direct coal liquefaction by using coal liquefaction residue, a key by-product of direct coal liquefaction, to produce mesophase pitch, from which high-end carbon materials can be manufactured. During the 14th and 15th Five-Year Plans, the company plans to build modern coal-to-oil and chemical projects in key strategic bases for coal-based oil and gas production, such as Ordos in Inner Mongolia, Yulin in Shaanxi, and Hami in Xinjiang, based on direct coal liquefaction technology. In terms of the utilization of coal liquefaction residues, through scientific research efforts, a set of coal liquefaction asphalt extraction technologies with independent intellectual property rights has been developed. A demonstration plant with an annual capacity of 350,000 tons has been built, capable of producing three types of coal liquefaction asphalt products, thereby significantly increasing their value. The project launched this time represents a further development by the company in the efficient utilization of coal liquefaction residues, and it constitutes a valuable attempt within the framework of technological innovation. During the discussion of the plan, Qiu Jieshan pointed out that the high-value utilization of the oil residues produced as a by-product in the coal-to-oil process is a key factor in expanding the industrial chain of direct coal liquefaction technology and enhancing economic competitiveness. The implementation of this project will give rise to new methods in molecular chemistry engineering technology as well as proprietary core technologies. By controlling the molecular weight and reactivity of coal liquefaction residue, it will be possible to produce high-quality intermediate-phase asphalt on a large scale, ultimately enabling the mass production of high-performance carbon materials such as pitch-based carbon fibers, needle coke, foam carbon, and lithium battery anode carbon. It is reported that, based on technical strategies from molecular chemical engineering, the project team has innovatively developed a technology for refining coal liquefaction asphalt. This will enable the production of refined coal liquefaction asphalt with an ash content of less than 100 ppm and a quinoline-insoluble matter (QI) content of less than 0.05%. Additionally, manufacturing technologies for several functional carbon materials derived from coal liquefaction residues, which will be at the world’s leading level, will be established. The 500-square-meter pilot plant has been largely completed, and the main unit for synthesizing intermediate-phase asphalt with a capacity of 100 liters is under construction; it is expected that the operation and optimization of all the pilot plant equipment will be completed by October this year.