China’s Rongsheng starts pilot plant for α-olefin elastomers

Hangzhou, China – Rongsheng Petrochemical has commissioned a 1,000-tonne pilot plant for the production of α-olefin elastomers at its Zhejiang Petrochemical manufacturing site in Zhoushan, in eastern China.

The unit uses ethylene as the raw ingredient and can produce 300 tonnes of 1-octene or 1,000 tonnes of 1-hexene with alternative process conditions, the company announced 22 Aug.

Currently, the elastomers production plant has "successfully" produced qualified 1-octene products, said the company's stock exchange announcement.

According to Rongsheng, demand for α-olefin elastomers is “steadily rising” supported by continuing growth within a range of downstream industries.

According to the Chinese group, the new facility marks “a significant pathway for high-value-added applications of ethylene products.”

“Zhejiang Petrochemical uses the raw materials provided by its existing ethylene plant and employs independently developed technology to build the α-olefin unit at the petrochemical base,” it stated.

Rongsheng added that it expects the commissioning of the unit to help 'reduce dependence on foreign process technology, and enhance Chinese domestic supply capacity of α-olefins.'

The start-up follows a Yuan67.5-billion (€8.5 billion) investment by Rongsheng in January to expand materials production in Zhoushan.

Among other facilities, the project includes a 200 kilotonne per annum (ktpa) polyolefin elastomer plant and a 400ktpa propylene oxide unit for polyurethane production.

The investment will also include an 800ktpa styrene monomer unit; a 500ktpa 1,4-butanediol plant and and a 120ktpa isobutylene facility.