China National Chemical Corporation has announced that its highly anticipated 600,000-ton per year propylene oxide project in Quanzhou, under its subsidiary China National Chemical Tianchen Quanzhou New Materials Co., Ltd., is complete and poised for operation. The company revealed this development yesterday on April 22, via its investor interaction platform.

While the sprawling facility has reached mechanical completion and is ready for operation, ChemChina clarified that production has not yet commenced. The company has tentatively scheduled the commencement of trial operations for May, marking the final stage before the plant officially comes online.

The project, officially launched on July 12, 2022, has progressed rapidly, achieving key milestones in a relatively short timeframe. Demonstrating efficient execution, the project completed civil construction and ensured transportation safety by November 30, 2022. This was followed by the successful completion of large-scale equipment lifting on May 19, 2023, and full project delivery on October 18, 2023.

The 600,000 tons per year propylene oxide production capacity is being implemented in two distinct phases, each contributing 300,000 tons annually. The details of the first phase highlight the scale and complexity of the integrated facility. This initial stage includes the construction of a 300,000 tons/year hydrogen peroxide propylene oxide (HPPO) unit, a more environmentally friendly production route for propylene oxide. Complementing this, two 450,000 tons/year 27.5% hydrogen peroxide units are also part of Phase I, with the capability to concentrate 450,000 tons per year to a 50% concentration.

Beyond the core production units, the first phase encompasses a comprehensive array of supporting infrastructure essential for smooth and safe operations. This includes tank farms for raw materials and finished products, air separation and air compression facilities, a refrigeration station, loading and unloading platforms, a circulating water station, and a condensate refining system. Crucially, environmental and safety considerations have been integrated into the design with the inclusion of an accident pool, a torch and incineration system, and a sewage treatment station. The power supply infrastructure includes a main transformer and device substation, alongside an electromechanical instrument maintenance workshop and a chemical warehouse.

The second phase of the project mirrors the first in terms of core production capacity, with plans to construct an additional 300,000 tons/year HPPO unit and two more 450,000 tons/year hydrogen peroxide units, again with the capability for 50% concentration. This phase will also see the development of necessary supporting public works and environmental protection projects, further underscoring ChemChina's commitment to sustainable operations.

Propylene oxide is a crucial intermediate in the production of a wide range of polyurethane products, coatings, adhesives, sealants, elastomers, and propylene glycol, finding applications in numerous sectors including construction, automotive, furniture, and textiles.