Recently, Wuhan EPHE signed a contract for the supply of primary and secondary reactors in the 100,000-ton/year DMC (dimethyl carbonate) plant of Ulanqab Xufeng Heyuan Chemical Co., Ltd. This order marks another milestone in the implementation of the company’s R&D achievements in recent years.

The project utilizes patented technologies from Hubei Yitan, Tianjin University, and China Wuhuan Engineering Co., Ltd., with China Wuhuan responsible for overall design. The primary and secondary reactors will be designed and manufactured by our company. The project aims to recycle byproduct gas (mineral furnace gas) from Xufeng Heyuan’s existing ferroalloy production facility to produce high-value methanol. The methanol liquid-phase oxidative carbonylation process will enable circular utilization of exhaust gas from the mineral furnace, capture CO2, and produce electronic-grade dimethyl carbonate.

Dimethyl carbonate (DMC), with the chemical formula C3H6O3, is an organic compound characterized by excellent solubility, fast volatility, high degreasing capacity, and low toxicity. It serves as a critical intermediate in organic synthesis and is widely used in lithium-ion battery electrolytes.

In alignment with the National Development and Reform Commission’s Guidelines for Energy Conservation and Carbon Reduction in Key High-Energy-Consumption Industries (2022 Edition), the resource utilization of tail gas and waste in the ferroalloy industry presents significant opportunities.

Since 2014, Wuhan EPHE has conducted extensive research on DMC production processes and the large-scale industrialization of key equipment. We have developed reactors tailored to various processes, including transesterification, methanol oxidative carbonyl liquid-phase, and direct CO2-methanol methods. In-depth studies and experiments have been performed on catalyst compatibility, corrosion resistance, operational flexibility, manufacturing, maintenance, material selection, and availability.

The selection of Wuhan EPHE by Xufeng Heyuan to supply the reactors for its 100,000-ton/year DMC plant demonstrates full recognition of our technological expertise and R&D achievements in DMC production equipment.

During project preparation and execution, our company engaged in thorough communication with technology licensors, engineering firms, and end-users, laying a solid foundation for successful implementation. This collaboration will further advance the R&D and application upgrades of our reactor products.