On July 16, 2026, the 2026 China Refining and Chemical Enterprises Technology Achievement Exchange Conference was grandly inaugurated in Beijing. As a premier industry event of significant influence in China’s refining and petrochemical sector, the conference brought together leaders from PetroChina, academicians of the two Chinese Academies, and top technical experts from across the nation’s refining and chemical industries. Focusing on key themes such as green and low‑carbon development, smart refining and chemical processing, and safe production, the event convened to jointly explore innovative pathways for the transformation and upgrading of the refining and chemical industry. Changzhou Ruihua Chemical Engineering Technology Co., Ltd. was invited to attend, engaging in in-depth exchanges with industry peers on cutting‑edge technological advances.

At this high-level technical exchange forum, Zhang Wenming, Deputy General Manager of Changzhou Ruihua Chemical Engineering Technology Co., Ltd., delivered a special presentation titled “Advances in Ruihua’s Propylene Oxide Technology.”

During the exchange, Ruihua’s technical team engaged in extensive discussions with academicians, industry experts, and representatives from major refining and petrochemical enterprises. They shared insights on topics such as low‑carbon process innovation, energy‑efficient plant upgrades, safety production management, and the industrial application of new technologies, while actively listening to industry needs and exploring opportunities for collaborative innovation among academia, industry, and research institutions.

In response to the wave of transformation sweeping the refining and petrochemical industries in the “dual carbon” era, Ruihua Technology will remain committed to the fundamental principle of technological innovation, continuously refining its proprietary core process technologies for propylene oxide, styrene, maleic anhydride, and other key products. Focusing on two major priorities—green and low‑carbon development, and safety and efficiency—the company will continue to deliver reliable, turnkey engineering solutions. Looking ahead, Ruihua looks forward to deepening collaborative innovation with its peers in the refining and petrochemical sectors, jointly tackling critical process‑technology challenges and collectively advancing China’s oil refining and chemical industry toward a new stage of higher‑quality, more sustainable growth.

Propylene oxide/styrene coproduction process

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Overview

Propylene oxide is the third-largest propylene-derived product, after polypropylene and acrylonitrile. It serves as a key feedstock for the production of polyether polyols—used to manufacture polyurethanes—as well as numerous downstream products such as propylene glycol and alcohol ethers, making it an important basic raw material in organic chemical synthesis.

The propylene oxide–styrene co‑production technology (POSM) is a process well suited for large-scale refining and petrochemical complexes, particularly those with abundant aromatics and olefins. Compared with the conventional chlorohydrin process, it offers significant environmental advantages. This integrated unit can simultaneously produce propylene oxide and styrene, enabling shared use of feedstocks, energy, and equipment, thereby enhancing resource utilization efficiency.

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Process flow

The Ruihua POSM process uses ethylbenzene and propylene as feedstocks to produce propylene oxide and styrene. Ethylbenzene is reacted with oxygen in a plug‑flow oxidation reactor to form ethylbenzene hydroperoxide (EBHP). After alkaline washing and concentration, the high‑concentration EBHP is sent to the epoxidation reactor. In the presence of a solid titanium‑silicon catalyst, EBHP undergoes epoxidation with propylene, yielding propylene oxide and phenylethanol, along with acetophenone as a byproduct; the final product, propylene oxide, is obtained after purification.

The mixture containing ethylbenzene, phenylethanol, and acetophenone is sent to the dehydration unit, where phenylethanol is converted into styrene over a solid dehydration catalyst. After purification, the styrene product is obtained, while the ethylbenzene, having had impurities removed, is recycled back to the oxidation unit. This dehydration catalyst exhibits outstanding performance, achieving a selectivity for both styrene and acetophenone exceeding 99%, with minimal tar formation and a significantly extended operating cycle. Acetophenone is hydrogenated to phenylethanol in the presence of a copper-based catalyst, and the hydrogenation product is returned to the dehydration unit for further processing.

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Success Stories

Guoen Chemical (formerly CITIC Guoan Chemical): 80,000–200,000 tons/year POSM plant

Zhejiang Petrochemical: 270,000/600,000 tons/year POSM unit

China National Petroleum Corporation Guangxi Petrochemical: 270,000/600,000 tons per year POSM unit

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Features and Advantages

 

(1) A plug-flow peroxidation reactor is employed, effectively mitigating liquid-phase backmixing, reducing the decomposition of ethylbenzene hydroperoxide (EBHP), and enhancing peroxide selectivity.

(2) An isothermal epoxidation reactor is employed, effectively preventing potential runaway reactions or incomplete oxidation of peroxides during the epoxidation process, thereby increasing the yield of the target product and reducing material consumption.

(3) A radial dehydration reactor is employed, leveraging radial flow technology and optimizing the design of the inlet and outlet flow channels, thereby endowing the reactor with advantages such as uniform fluid distribution and low bed pressure drop.

(4) The low‑temperature heat from the unit is utilized to produce hot water or steam, thereby reducing both the overall steam consumption and the circulating cooling water consumption, and significantly lowering energy consumption.

Process for the Preparation of Propylene Oxide via Cumene Hydroperoxide

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Overview

Propylene oxide is the third-largest propylene-derived product, after polypropylene and acrylonitrile. It serves as a key feedstock for the production of polyether polyols—used to manufacture polyurethanes—as well as numerous downstream products such as propylene glycol and alcohol ethers, making it an important basic raw material in organic chemical synthesis.

The cumene hydroperoxide–based propylene oxide production technology (CHPPO) is particularly well suited to refineries that possess abundant aromatics and olefins resources. Compared with the conventional chlorohydrin process, CHPPO offers significant environmental advantages. Moreover, when contrasted with the direct oxidation of hydrogen peroxide to propylene oxide (HPPO), CHPPO demonstrates markedly superior safety characteristics.

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Process flow

Ruihua’s CHPPO technology uses propylene as the feedstock and cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) as the oxidant to produce propylene oxide via the oxidation of propylene. Cumene and oxygen undergo an autocatalytic reaction to form CHP; after alkaline washing and concentration, the high‑concentration CHP is fed into the epoxidation reactor. In the presence of a solid titanium–silicon catalyst, the concentrated CHP reacts with propylene in an epoxidation process, yielding propylene oxide and dimethylbenzyl alcohol; the product is then purified to obtain the final propylene oxide.

The mixture containing dimethylbenzyl alcohol and cumene is sent to the hydrogenolysis unit, where dimethylbenzyl alcohol is hydrogenolyzed to produce cumene. After impurities are removed, the cumene is recycled back to the oxidation unit.

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Features and Advantages

(1) The peroxide reactor is a vertical bubble‑column reactor with uniform internal temperature and concentration profiles. It employs an external circulation heat‑removal system to ensure efficient removal of reaction heat, thereby ensuring safe and stable operation of the unit.

(2) The use of an isothermal epoxidation reactor effectively prevents potential runaway reactions or incomplete oxidation of peroxides, thereby increasing the yield of the target product and reducing material consumption.

(3) The hydrogenolysis catalyst exhibits excellent performance, with high cumene selectivity, low tar formation, and a long operating cycle, thereby effectively reducing material consumption.

(4) The low‑temperature heat from the unit is utilized to produce hot water or steam, thereby reducing both the overall steam consumption and the circulating cooling water consumption, and significantly lowering energy consumption.

Propylene oxide/tert-butanol co-production process

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Overview

Propylene oxide is the third-largest propylene-derived product, after polypropylene and acrylonitrile. It serves as a key feedstock for the production of polyether polyols—used to manufacture polyurethanes—as well as numerous downstream products such as propylene glycol and alcohol ethers, making it an important basic raw material in organic chemical synthesis.

The propylene oxide–tert-butanol co‑production technology (POTBA) is particularly well suited for enterprises that rely solely on olefin feedstocks. Compared with the conventional chlorohydrin process, POTBA offers significant environmental advantages. This process not only produces propylene oxide but also co‑produces tert‑butyl alcohol (TBA) or methyl tert‑butyl ether (MTBE), thereby enhancing resource utilization.

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Process flow

Ruihua’s POTBA technology uses isobutane and propylene as feedstocks to produce propylene oxide and tert-butanol. Isobutane undergoes an autocatalytic reaction with oxygen to form tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP). After alkaline washing and concentration, the high‑concentration TBHP is fed into the epoxidation reactor. In the presence of a solid titanium–silicon catalyst, the concentrated TBHP reacts with propylene in an epoxidation process, yielding propylene oxide and tert-butanol; these products are then purified to obtain commercial-grade propylene oxide and tert-butanol.

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Features and Advantages

(1) A dual-component carrier gas consisting of isobutane and nitrogen was configured in varying proportions, and by controlling the introduction of oxygen into the reactor at a safe concentration, the safety and operability of the isobutane oxidation reaction were ensured.

(2) The use of an isothermal epoxidation reactor effectively prevents potential runaway reactions or incomplete oxidation of peroxides, thereby increasing the yield of the target product and reducing material consumption.

(3) Co‑products such as tert‑butanol (TBA), methyl tert‑butyl ether (MTBE), or isobutylene can be adjusted according to downstream market demand and economic viability.

(4) The low‑temperature heat from the unit is utilized to produce hot water or steam, thereby reducing both the overall steam consumption and the circulating cooling water consumption, and significantly lowering energy consumption.