China Launches Largest Single-Train Coal-Based Ethylene Plant

Recently, Xinjiang Tianye Huixiang New Materials Co., Ltd. successfully commissioned its 104,000 tons/year ultra-pure ethanol dehydration unit, a key part of its 225,000 tons/year high-performance resin feedstock project. This unit is currently the largest single-train ethanol-to-ethylene facility in China and has stably produced high-quality ethylene with a purity of 99.96%. The milestone marks a historic breakthrough for China in non-petroleum-based ethylene technology.

The project adopts a patented ethanol-to-ethylene dehydration technology independently developed by Tianjin University and was industrialized through the engineering capabilities of BPE Engineering. It represents a significant shift for Tianye Group away from its traditional high-energy, high-emission calcium carbide-based PVC production model, toward a cleaner and more efficient use of coal resources.

Once operational, the plant is expected to significantly reduce standard coal consumption and carbon dioxide emissions, delivering notable environmental benefits.

As the project's design partner, Beijing Petrochemical Engineering Co., Ltd. contributed extensive engineering expertise, particularly in process optimization. The company has made key breakthroughs in designing large-scale coal-based olefins units, enhancing the integration of coal chemical processes with low-carbon olefin production. This successful implementation enables Tianye Group to build a new "coal–ethanol–ethylene–PVC" industrial chain and demonstrates China's internationally competitive capabilities in non-petroleum-based olefins production. The project sets a replicable benchmark for the transformation and upgrading of the coal chemical industry.