W. R. Grace & Co. has contracted to license its UNIPOL® PP Process Technology and services to Ningxia Baofeng Energy Group Co., Ltd. for a new methanol-to-olefin (MTO) facility in Ningxia, China. The new reactor line is expected to begin operations in late 2018.
Based in Yinchaun, China, Ningxia Baofeng Energy Group manufactures, processes, and markets coal and petrochemical products, which include methanol and olefin. This new PP unit is designed to produce 300 kilotons per year of homopolymer, random copolymers, and impact copolymers.
The project represents the 22nd UNIPOL® PP Process Technology reactor line license in China. With this license, the total design capacity of UNIPOL® PP lines in China will reach nearly 7,000 kilotons per year.
Grace’s all gas-phase UNIPOL® PP Process Technology provides the most advanced and broadest range of homopolymers, random copolymers, and impact copolymers in the industry. As the simplest of all PP process technologies, with fewer moving parts and less equipment than any alternative, its reliable, stable, and predictable operation leads to lower capital, operating, and maintenance costs.
Chen Zhaoyuan, Vice President of Ningxia Baofeng Energy Group, said, “The focus for our new MTO plant is to serve the growing PP market demand in China with the most economical investment and with broad product capability. We are glad to work with Grace to meet our business objectives using the UNIPOL® PP technology.”
Al Beninati, President of Grace’s Specialty Catalysts business segment, said, “Grace is very pleased to be the PP process technology of choice for Ningxia Baofeng’s new MTO operation. Combined with our non-phthalate CONSISTA® catalysts, the state-of-the-art system will enable Ningxia Baofeng to provide a wide portfolio of quality products to their customers.”