Skill upgrading for the Wanhua Polyether Polyol Capacity Expansion (Phase I) project and Wanhua Chemical (Penglai) Differential Polyether project

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On May 8, Wanhua Chemical’s official website released draft environmental impact assessment reports for two projects: the polyether polyol capacity expansion (Phase I) project and the Wanhua Chemical (Penglai) differentiated polyether project. Among them, the polyether polyol capacity expansion (Phase I) project is located in the Yantai Chemical Industry Park; it focuses on carrying out technical upgrades and capacity expansions for the existing Polyether Plant No. 2, resulting in an additional total capacity of 262,000 tons per year. Upon completion of the renovation, the production capacity will be 400,000 tons per year for vinyl polyether polyol (POP), 300,000 tons per year for dual-metal catalyst polypropylene oxide polyether polyol (DMC), and 100,000 tons per year for polypropylene glycol (PPG230). At the same time, the project involves simultaneous process upgrades for multiple distinct polyether production lines, by replacing traditional KOH catalysts with new POC catalysts, thereby improving both product quality and production efficiency. As a core raw material in the production of polyurethanes, polyether polyols are widely used in soft foam, rigid foam, and specialized CASE applications, serving as a key intermediate that links petrochemical raw materials with downstream polymer materials. From a production perspective, the POP polyether produced as part of this capacity expansion is synthesized using styrene and acrylonitrile as polymerization monomers, through free-radical polymerization followed by purification and degassing ； DMC polyethers belong to the category of high-end soft foam polyethers; they are synthesized using low-molecular-weight polyethers or alcohols as starting materials, along with propylene oxide and ethylene oxide monomers, under the action of DMC bimetallic catalysts. This results in higher technical barriers and greater product value. Another differentiated polyether project is located in the Yantai Penglai Chemical Industry Park, and it will be expanded and upgraded by building on Wanhua Penglai’s existing ethoxylation products (EOD) facilities: a new production line for epoxy soybean oil polyether with an annual capacity of 15,000 tons will be established ； The under-construction 280,000 tons/year polyether admixture plant (including 180,000 tons/year of polyether admixtures and 100,000 tons/year of PEG products) will be upgraded from batch production to a continuous process ； It also involves the renovation of utility systems and auxiliary facilities to further expand the portfolio of high-end, differentiated polyether products.