Successful trial run of 10,000-ton methanol-to-olefin industrial test equipment

August 04, 2018

Recently, China's 10,000-ton methanol-based low-carbon olefin (MTO) industrialized test equipment was successfully driven. The first stage test achieved methanol conversion rate of more than 99.9%, ethylene and propylene selectivity up to 78%, and built an annual output of one million for China. The tonnage MTO industrialization demonstration project laid the foundation.

MTO refers to the chemical process technology for producing low-carbon olefins by using methanol or natural gas synthesized methanol as raw material and by means of fluidized bed reaction similar to catalytic cracking unit. As early as the 1970s and 1980s, the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences launched the MTO technology research and development work, and was included in the national "eighth five" key scientific and technological research projects. In the process of research and development, not only the key technologies such as mechanism research, laboratory test, catalyst preparation and pilot scale amplification were completed, but also more than 20 domestic and foreign patents were applied, forming independent intellectual property rights.

In August 2004, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences signed an agreement with Shaanxi Xinxing Coal Chemical Technology Development Co., Ltd. and Luoyang Petrochemical Engineering Co., Ltd. to jointly build a 10,000-ton methanol low-carbon olefin industrialization test project, and select MTO process technology and key equipment. The design, catalyst industrial application performance and other issues are verified and evaluated by the project, laying a technical foundation and accumulating engineering construction experience for the construction of a million-ton MTO industrialized plant. At present, the first phase of the test has been completed, and the second phase will optimize the process conditions to achieve higher olefin yield indicators. The success and industrialization of MTO industrialization test will open up a new coal chemical new route for non-oil resources to produce low-carbon olefins, effectively reduce the dependence of ethylene, propylene and other chemical industries on petroleum light hydrocarbon raw materials, and promote China's heavy chemical industry. Structural adjustment and leapfrog development of raw material routes.