Methanol-to-Propylene Catalyst Developed by Datang Chemical Company Passed Appraisal

The methanol-to-propylene catalyst developed by the Research Institute of Datang Chemical Company has passed the research achievement appraisal sponsored by the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Society. The experts attending the appraisal meeting have admitted that this catalyst is securing a leading position among similar products in the world.

This catalyst is synthesized based on the innovative crystal surface templating technique that can increase the propylene yield in the target products, reduce the lower alkanes yield and decrease the specific methanol consumption per ton of propylene to enhance the economic benefits of the existing MTP unit. It is estimated that the cost for purchasing the catalyst required by a 460 kt/a propylene project can help the enterprise save around 40 million RMB a year. Furthermore, the enterprise has applied for more than ten patents on this novel MTP catalyst, among which 6 patents have been granted.

The Research Institute of Datang Chemical Company (RIDCC) started the R&D work on the MTP catalyst in 2008, and the commercial application of this catalyst achieved a great success in October 2013. In 2014 a 1200 t/a MTP catalyst production line was set up. By means of this catalyst production line RIDCC has provided 150 tons of catalyst to the process unit in Duolun city. On June 25, 2014 a total of 150 tons of this catalyst provided by RIDCC had been loaded into the reactor C of the MTP unit at the Duolun Coal Chemical Company. Since then all reactors at the Duolun Coal Chemical Company have been operating with domestic MTP catalyst, indicating that the MTP catalyst independently developed by RIDCC has transferred from the commercial test phase to the comprehensive commercial application phase.