Production Technology Determination Of JPPCC 1,4-butanediol Project

CNPC Jinxi Petroleum Processing & Chemical Complex(JPPCC) has heavy C4 resource about 90,000t/a which is separated from petroleum gas. The main ingredients of heavy C4 are n-butane, cis-butene-2 and trans-butene-2. After hydrogenation, the n-butane which purity is more than 96% can be obtained. At present all heavy C4 is burnt up as civil LPG and has not been comprehensively used. According to the market, JPPCC selects n-butane as the raw material to produce 1,4-butanediol (40,000 t/a) and takes this project as the important part of JPPCC petrochemical base. This paper compared different 1,4-butanediol production technologies to select the optimal process and provide the technical support for JPPCC. It is well known that producing 1,4-butanediol with n-butane is more cost-effective and competitive. two-stage process (Davy-Mckee) and one-stage process(GEMINOXTM) are two main processes of producing 1,4-butanediol with n-butane. The two-stage process is to oxidize n-butane to form Maleic Anhydride first, then Maleic Anhydride will be formed 1,4-butandiol and the by-product of Tetrahydrofuran by low-pressure ester hydrogenation. One-stage process is to oxidize n-butane to produce Maleic Acid , then form 1,4-butandiol by direct hydrogenation. Comparing the two process technologies, this paper provides theoretical consideration to select process technology for JPPCC, at the meanwhile this paper also introduces some detailed information about GEMINOXTM process. This process has just put into commercial use. The process is more competitive for investment and running cost , and it is the first choice for JPPCC to produce 1,4-butuandiol and the research direction for our scientific and technical workers in China. At first we introduce and then absorb the foreign technology, this is a shortcut of shorten the distance between China and foreign countries ,and it is also meaningful to promote the development of 1,4-butandiol industry of our country.