September 27, 2024 – Ningxia Coal Industry Marks Major Milestone in Polyolefin Catalyst Development
Ningxia Coal Industry Company has recently achieved remarkable success in the field of polyolefin catalysts. Its 40-ton-per-year pilot plant for a novel polypropylene Ziegler-Natta catalyst has successfully produced qualified products. This catalyst boasts exceptional performance, matching its market counterparts and proving suitable for various polypropylene production processes. It holds promising potential for widespread application in polyethylene and other polyolefin production units. This accomplishment signifies a significant breakthrough in Ningxia Coal Industry’s independent research and development of polyolefin catalysts.
Over the past decade, China’s polyolefin industry has witnessed a surge in investments, leading to rapid expansion in industrial scale and capacity. Consequently, the market for basic products and commodity materials has gradually become saturated, intensifying homogeneous competition. Amidst this industry landscape, Ningxia Coal Industry’s Coal-to-Liquid and Chemical Research Institute has closely followed industry trends, prioritizing high-quality development and striving to advance technological self-reliance. In terms of technology research and development, the institute has collaborated closely with multiple departments and units, including the company’s Science and Technology Development Department, Coal-to-Liquid and Chemical Command, and Olefin II Company, to promote the differentiation and high-end development of polyolefins.
According to Color Masterbatch Industry News, the development of this new polypropylene Ziegler-Natta catalyst was supported by a key research and development project in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. After years of arduous efforts, the Coal-to-Liquid and Chemical Research Institute finally achieved success. During the construction of the pilot plant, the team faced multiple challenges, including insufficient raw material refining and dehydration capacity, difficult-to-control catalyst preparation reaction conditions, and ineffective tail gas separation. However, leveraging its technological and talent advantages, the institute organized a core research team that worked tirelessly between the pilot plant and the laboratory, conducting repeated experimental verifications. Simultaneously, the institute collaborated with relevant departments and units, comprehensively addressing various aspects such as organization, technology, construction, and production implementation, overcoming numerous challenges in the independent development and production process.
Ultimately, Ningxia Coal Industry Company successfully achieved a 5000-fold engineering scale-up from laboratory to pilot production, marking a crucial step towards the localization of high-end polyolefin catalysts. This achievement not only demonstrates Ningxia Coal Industry’s independent research and development capabilities in the field of polyolefin catalysts but also injects new vitality into the future development of China’s polyolefin industry.