Development history of the SMTO process

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This post was last edited by liaifeng on 2018-8-15 at 18:39. Sinopec Shanghai Research Institute of Petrochemical Technology began developing MTO technology in the year 2000. During 2005–2006, MTO fluidized-bed catalysts using a new drying method were successfully developed; they are inexpensive, exhibit excellent catalytic performance, have a particle size distribution similar to that of FCC catalysts, and possess higher strength than FCC catalysts. The SMTO-1 catalyst developed by them operated stably for 2000 hours in a 12 t/a MTO circulating fluidized bed thermal test unit, with no significant changes in the catalyst’s physical properties. The methanol conversion rate was greater than 99.8%, the carbon selectivity for ethylene and propylene was above 80%, and the selectivity for ethylene, propylene, and C4 compounds was over 90%. This new process consists of two reaction stages: the first stage involves the highly selective conversion of syngas into dimethyl ether using a metal-zirconia bifunctional catalyst, while the second stage involves the highly selective conversion of dimethyl ether into low-carbon olefins such as ethylene and propylene using a SAPO-34 molecular sieve catalyst. The new SMTO process has the following features: 1. The production of dimethyl ether from syngas overcomes the thermodynamic limitations of the methanol production process from syngas; the CO conversion rate can approach 100%, and investment can be saved by 5–8% compared to the process of producing low-carbon olefins from syngas via methanol ； 2. The use of a small-pore phosphosilicaluminate (SAPO-34) molecular sieve catalyst results in a **higher ethylene selectivity** compared to the ZSM-5 catalyst ； 3. The use of a fluidized bed reactor in the second stage allows for effective removal of reaction heat, enabling continuous operation of reaction and regeneration ； 4. The new process is flexible; its two-stage reaction process can be combined to form a complete process for producing olefins, or it can be used separately. In 2007, Sinopec completed an industrial pilot plant for methanol-to-olefins (SMTO) with a capacity of 100 tons per day at Yanshan Petrochemical in Beijing. In 2008, the development of an MTO process package with an annual methanol feed capacity of 1.8 million tons was completed, enabling the capability to design and construct large-scale industrial MTO plants. Zhongyuan Petrochemical’s 600,000 tons per year methanol-to-olefins (MTO) project began construction in Puyang in April 2010, and started up successfully on its first attempt in October 2011. It utilized SMTO technology, and the plant was shut down for maintenance in May 2012. On February 3, 2010, Sinopec Group signed a cooperation memorandum with Henan Province**, agreeing that the project to produce 600,000 tons of olefins per year from 1.8 million tons of methanol would be established in the Baoshan Circular Economy Industrial Cluster in Hebi City, Henan Province. The project will be implemented in collaboration between Sinopec and Henan Coal and Chemical Industry Group. The project will build on the 600,000+600,000-ton methanol production facility that Henan Coal Chemical has established in the Hebi area, integrating coal mining, methanol production, MTO processes, and downstream processing into a single operational system. The division of tasks for the preliminary work of the project is such that the coal mining plan is to be handled by Henan Coal Chemical ； Sinopec is responsible for the methanol–MTO and downstream product processing plans, while the relevant departments in Henan Province provide the supporting materials necessary for submitting the project applications. The project application report must be completed and submitted to the **responsible authority by June 2010. SMTO does not transfer its technology to external parties at present.