【Ten Years of Rapid Development in Chemical Equipment】Pilot-scale technology for the high-selective tetrapolymerization of ethylene to produce high-purity 1-octene was approved between 2012 and 2023

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Looking at the development of chemical technology over the past decade, we celebrate the prosperity and strength of modern China; this post is meant to inspire further discussion, with more participants making it even more lively. HaiChuan becomes even better with you here. [A decade of progress in chemical equipment] – continuous updates and summaries are available; feel free to join the discussions at https://bbs.hcbbs.com/thread-3576046-1-1.html. Prevention first, life above all. ----------------------------------------- On September 17, 2023, the pilot-scale technology development project for the high-selective polymerization of ethylene to produce high-purity 1-octene, carried out by Satellite Chemical Co., Ltd., was evaluated in Beijing by the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation. The appraisal committee, composed of 7 experts including Zhang Liqun, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and president of South China University of Technology, and Wang Yuqing, a professor-level engineer from the Chinese Chemical Society, unanimously agreed that this technology has reached an internationally advanced level. The purity of 1-octene produced by this technology is superior to that of similar products both domestically and abroad. The technology for producing large quantities of 1-octene fills a gap in China’s capabilities in this area, providing a foundation for further development, design, and construction of industrial facilities with a production capacity of tens of thousands of tons. 　　According to the appraisal, the project team developed a new type of metal catalyst, created a new polymerization process, and used equipment designed by themselves. The project achieves highly selective production of 1-hexene and 1-octene ； Stable production of high-purity 1-octene has been achieved ； Efficient separation of 1-octene product was achieved ； Long-term operation of the reaction system has been achieved. At the same time, the outcomes of this project possess independent intellectual property rights. The 1-octene product produced has a purity of over 99.2% as determined by testing; it has been tested in various product applications across different companies, and its performance is on par with or even exceeds that of imported products, offering broad prospects for market application. 　　At the appraisal meeting, the expert group highly praised the independent intellectual property rights of the project’s achievements. The members of the evaluation expert panel considered that it was no easy task to achieve the project results, and that these results hold great potential for broader application and dissemination. They advised Satellite Chemistry to accelerate the development of new downstream products and to improve its industrial chain in order to meet market demands. 　　It is understood that α-olefins are key raw materials that constrain the development of China’s POE, high-end polyolefins, and high-end lubricant industries. The core technologies related to high-carbon α-olefins are entirely in the hands of foreign companies; there are no domestically produced alternatives of equal quality, whether it comes to high-performance catalysts, polymerization processes, or key equipment. Every year, in addition to importing large quantities of α-olefins, our country also imports a large amount of their derivatives. 　　The \"Guidelines for Industrial Structure Adjustment\" explicitly encourage the acceleration of the development and production of ethylene-octene copolymers, metallocene polyethylene, and high-carbon α-olefins, with a view to promoting the industrialization of high-performance polyolefins. To meet **strategic needs, the Satellite Chemistry project team worked tirelessly for 5 years before making a significant breakthrough. According to Shen Xiaowei, vice president of Satellite Chemical, in 2018, Satellite Chemical initiated the development of pilot-scale technologies for high-carbon α-olefins ； On February 6, 2023, the industrial pilot plant with an annual production capacity of 1,000 tons of α-olefins was successfully commissioned after its first feed-in operation ； In March 2023, the industrial test plant for α-olefins achieved stable operation, meeting the objectives set for such a test plant. 　　Saturn Chemical’s independently developed α-olefin technology is a key element in establishing an integrated industrial chain for ethane, ethylene, α-olefins, and high-end new materials. In June this year, Satellite Chemical issued a statement announcing its intention to invest around 25.7 billion yuan in building a high-end new materials industrial park for the comprehensive utilization of alpha-olefins in the Xuwei New Area of Lianyungang.