Clariant MegaMax™ 800 sets new production record at Zhongtian Hechuang methanol plants

• MegaMax 800 methanol synthesis catalyst installed at two Zhongtian Hechuang methanol production plants in July 2020
• Both units report excellent catalyst performance with record cumulative methanol production of 48,600 tons per metric ton of catalyst
• The catalyst offers high activity, selectivity and stability, allowing a long lifetime of productivity and improved energy efficiency

MUNICH, October 16, 2024 - Clariant, a sustainability-focused specialty chemical company, today announced outstanding results regarding its MegaMax 800 methanol synthesis catalyst at Zhongtian Hechuang which operates with two methanol units, each producing 1.8 megatons of methanol annually through a Lurgi MegaMethanol™ process. Both had been operating favorably with Clariant’s previous catalyst, MegaMax 700, for around 3.5 years prior to replacement with the newer MegaMax 800, as well as Clariant deep desulfurization systems ActiSorb™ S2 and ActiSorb S6 and successful startup in July 2020. Four-year results show excellent catalyst efficiency and productivity with operations at 110% of design capacity. Combined yield of MTO grade methanol has increased to 17,195 kilotons, and cumulative methanol production has soared to 48,600 tons per metric ton of catalyst, setting a new record among global coal-based mega-methanol plants.

Georg Anfang, Vice President Syngas and Fuels at Clariant Catalysts, commented, “We are delighted that our MegaMax 800 catalyst has set a new benchmark in mega-methanol production. The success is a result of our company’s 50 years of experience in methanol catalysis. This important achievement would not have been possible without the strong collaboration between Zhongtian Hechuang’s professional operations team and our technical experts.”

Xiaohua Chu, Secretary of Party Committee of Zhongtian Hechuang Chemical Branch, stated, “We were very pleased with the performance of catalyst. Our methanol plants set a new record on lifetime operation and accumulative production since its commerce. The excellent performance of Clariant’s methanol catalyst laid the foundation for 4 years continuous operation and high-efficient maintenance and start up. We look forward to even stronger results with the next load of catalyst.”

Founded in 2007 in Eerduosi, Inner Mongolia, Zhongtian Hechuang Energy Co. Ltd. is a leading energy and chemicals joint venture between SINOPEC, China Coal Group, Shenergy Group, and Inner Mongolia Manshi Group. The company operates the world’s largest coal-based methanol-to-olefin (MTO) production facility, with an annual capacity of 3.6 megatons of methanol, as well as 1.37 megatons of polyethylene and polypropylene. The methanol units are also the world’s largest plants using Air Liquide’s Lurgi MegaMethanol process and Clariant catalysts.

MegaMax 800 offers much higher activity than standard methanol synthesis catalysts – even at low reactor temperatures and pressures. It also provides superior selectivity, excellent stability and high poison tolerance, ensuring a long lifetime of productivity and improved energy efficiency with lower carbon emissions. The catalyst is suitable for large or small production units and is proven to deliver excellent performance in various reactor types and with diverse feedstocks. For optimal catalyst performance, Clariant also offers the CLARITY™ digital service portal, which provides real-time data to enhance plant reliability, safety, and profitability.

With methanol being an important intermediate for ZhongTian HeChuang, the company benefitted greatly from the installation of the deep desulfurization systems of ActiSorb S2 and ActiSorb S6 which held the Sulfur concentration below 10 ppb at the unit’s outlet, protecting the downstream synthesis catalyst’s lifetime and performance from upstream Sulfur fluctuation. This enabled ZhongTian HeChuang to skip a turnaround cycle providing considerable additional methanol production and economic benefits.

Learn more about Clariant’s MegaMax 800 methanol synthesis catalyst and CLARITY service.

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