Wison (Nanjing) Clean Energy Company has partnered with a Honeywell company, UOP, for advanced methanol-to-olefins (MTO) technology.
The technology will be used to convert methanol into ethylene and propylene for producing high-quality petrochemicals at a coal chemical facility in China. The advanced MTO process technology provides high yield by producing very less byproducts.
The project includes installation of UOP's advanced MTO solution, which integrates the Total Petrochemicals/UOP Olefin Cracking Process (OCP) and the UOP/Hydro MTO process. It enables petrochemical producers to produce high-value petrochemicals and plastics using methanol from coal or natural gas.
The UOP/Hydro MTO process changes methanol into propylene and ethylene and the olefins that are created during this process are converted using the OCP technique to increase the production of propylene and ethylene.
Honeywell UOP will deliver specialty equipment, adsorbents, catalysts, technology licenses, basic engineering and technical services for the world-class MTO facility. The plant is expected to commence operation in 2013 and will be the first methanol-to-olefin production facility in the world. The facility is estimated to produce 295,000 metric tons of propylene and ethylene every year that will be converted into chemical products.
The successful functioning of the MTO technology has been demonstrated in a semi-commercial-scale unit of Total Petrochemicals in Belgium. UOP and Total Petrochemicals have successfully converted propylene and ethylene to polypropylene and polyethylene in 2010.