First in China Glycol Ester-12 Production Line with Independent IPR Attains Production Target
After optimization and operation for half a year, the 30 kt/a 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentadiol mono-isobutyrate (hereinafter abbreviated as glycol ester-12) unit constructed by the Dynamic (Binhai) Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. using its proprietary technology has reached the design target on May 4, 2013, with the product purity reaching 99.5%, which has exceeded the quality indicators of imported product. It is learned that implementation of production target by this production line has put an end to the longtime market monopoly of ‘glycol ester-12’ by foreign companies.
It is told that ‘glycol ester-12’ is synthesized from isobutyraldehyde in two steps, viz. the condensation reaction of isobutyraldehyde and the Tishchenko reaction. The conventional catalysts used in the Tishchenko reaction involve mostly sodium hydroxide and barium hydroxide, but these catalysts have the disadvantages of low product yield, high toxicity of catalysts, multiple byproducts and enormous wastewater discharge. In order to avoid these shortcomings, the Dynamic (Binhai) Chemical Industry Co. has developed a resource-saving and environmentally friendly high-efficiency solid base catalyst and new process to substitute for the traditional sodium (or barium) hydroxide catalyst. It is said that this production process features the green and environmentally friendly nature, along with low production cost and high product quality. Currently this company has applied for China invention patents on the catalysts and synthesis process developed thereby.