Ethylene Acetic Acid Vinyl Acetate Catalyst

Overview:

Vinyl acetate (VAC), or vinylic acetate, is a vital organic chemical intermediate widely utilized in the production of polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, and further processed into adhesives, coatings, vinylon fibers, textile treatments, emulsions, resins, and films. The manufacturing routes for VAC include the acetylene method and the ethylene method, with the latter having become the dominant global production process. For a long time, the technology for VAC production and its core catalysts were monopolized by foreign companies. However, these catalysts were associated with drawbacks such as high cost, sensitivity to feedstock variations, poor resistance to impurities, and relatively short operational lifetimes. To break this monopoly, enhance catalyst performance, and expedite the industrial implementation and commercialization of proprietary technologies, efforts were directed towards the successful development of a new ethylene-based VAC catalyst and its corresponding production process.

This catalyst was honored with the First Prize of Shanghai Science and Technology Progress Award and the Second Prize of Sinopec Science and Technology Progress, among others. Centered around the core catalyst technology, a series of more than 60 Chinese authorized invention patents were obtained, encompassing innovations in catalyst carriers, catalyst formulation, and reaction processes.

CTV Series VAC Catalysts:

Four grades of CTV series VAC catalysts have been developed, tailored to accommodate varying operational conditions in different industrial plants.

Performance:

The CTV-IV type catalyst, currently the mainstay for promotion in ethylene-based VAC production, stands out with its highly dispersed palladium-gold alloy and a well-distributed, uniform particle size. Industrial implementations have demonstrated that the CTV-IV catalyst, when deployed in VAC plants, offers high average space-time yields, excellent selectivity, and extended longevity. Its comprehensive performance reaches international advanced levels, particularly excelling in catalyst life span and selectivity, which are at the forefront globally.

Application and Dissemination:

The CTV series VAC catalysts have seen successful deployment in three domestic ethylene-based VAC facilities and have achieved a 100% adoption rate within the Sinopec system. This underscores a significant stride in enhancing domestic self-sufficiency and competitiveness in VAC production, effectively mitigating reliance on foreign technologies while boosting the efficiency and sustainability of China's chemical industry.