New coal-to-chemistry plant in Inner Mongolia will use novel ethylene glycol technology

DOWNSTREAM producer Jiutai is planning a coal-to-chemistry plant in Inner Mongolia that will produce ethylene glycol from syngas, using proprietary technology developed by Johnson Matthey and Eastman Chemical Company.

Jiutai is planning to build a coal-to-chemicals facility at Togtoh Industrial Park, Togtoh, Inner Mongolia, which will include a 1m t/y ethylene glycol facility. Ethylene glycol, commonly referred to as mono ethylene glycol (MEG), is typically produced from ethylene. MEG is used as a building block in the production of polyesters for fibre and packaging applications. The new process allows MEG to be produced from syngas feedstocks, thereby eliminating the need for ethylene.

The coal-to-chemicals facility will produce synthetic gas from coal gasification, which will then be converted to methanol and then to formaldehyde which is used to produce the MEG. Johnson Matthey’s technology and catalysts for the production of methanol and formaldehyde will also be used at the Jiutai plant, with the formaldehyde plant having a capacity of 1.5m t/y.

Cui Lianguo, chairman of Jiutai Group, said:

“Jiutai is pleased to select Johnson Matthey and Eastman’s novel technology for the production of MEG. Jiutai’s aim is to utilise local coal and other precious resources, such as water, in a clean and sustainable manner to produce high value MEG at its new coal-to-chemicals complex.”