World's First Low-Carbon Eco-Ethylene Glycol Enters Mass Production, Secures Full REACH Certification to Drive Sustainability Upgrade for Polyester Industry & Automotive Antifreeze Sector

News Body

At a critical juncture in the global chemical industry’s low-carbon transition, a landmark breakthrough in ethylene glycol (EG) production has officially entered industrialization. Today, a low-carbon eco-ethylene glycol, fully compliant with EU REACH Regulation (EC 1907/2006) and certified for high-purity industrial applications, has commenced large-scale production. This product achieves technological innovation in energy-saving synthesis and emission reduction, while passing rigorous international sustainability certifications. It is set to provide high-performance, low-carbon core raw material solutions for key sectors including polyester manufacturing and automotive coolant production—two fields accounting for over 90% of global ethylene glycol consumption.

1. Technical Milestones: Improved EO Hydration & Energy-Saving Separation Technology

Improved Catalytic Ethylene Oxide (EO) Hydration Process

• Key Innovation: Adopts a high-selectivity heterogeneous catalyst and moderate reaction conditions (temperature: 120-140°C, pressure: 2.0-2.5 MPa), replacing traditional non-catalytic high-temperature high-pressure processes. This reduces ethylene oxide hydrolysis by-products (e.g., diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol) by 30% and cuts comprehensive energy consumption by 25% compared to conventional technologies.

• Purity Benchmark: Meets the strict requirements of polyester-grade ethylene glycol (specification: ≥99.8% purity, water content ≤0.05%, iron content ≤0.1 ppm), in full compliance with ASTM D1385 (polyester-grade EG standard) and GB/T 4649-2018 (Chinese national standard for industrial ethylene glycol). The low impurity content ensures stable polymerization reactivity in polyester production.

Energy-Saving Continuous Distillation & Purification Technology

• This technology integrates multi-effect distillation and heat integration systems, recovering waste heat from the hydration reaction to power the distillation process. It reduces steam consumption by 40% compared to single-tower distillation. Meanwhile, the closed-loop water circulation design minimizes wastewater discharge, aligning with circular economy principles.

2. Sustainability Certifications and Full-Chain Traceability

The environmental and safety credentials of this low-carbon eco-ethylene glycol are endorsed by international authoritative certifications, covering raw material sustainability, carbon footprint, and environmental management:

3. Industry Impact: Performance Enhancement and Cost Optimization

Third-party test reports (based on ASTM and ISO standard methods) confirm that this low-carbon eco-ethylene glycol outperforms traditional ethylene glycol in key application scenarios, delivering dual benefits of performance improvement and cost reduction:

Polyester Industry Applications

• Polymerization Stability: Low impurity content (e.g., aldehydes ≤5 ppm) reduces chain termination during PET polymerization, increasing fiber breaking strength by 3-5% and improving bottle-grade PET’s barrier properties against oxygen and moisture.

• Cost Efficiency: The optimized EO conversion rate (≥98%) reduces raw material waste, while energy-saving production lowers the product’s unit cost by 8-10%, helping downstream polyester enterprises reduce formulation costs by $80-120 per ton of finished product.

Automotive Antifreeze Applications

• Low-Temperature Performance: Freezing point reaches -37°C at a 50% (v/v) aqueous solution, exceeding the ASTM D3245 standard for automotive coolants; low volatility (weight loss ≤2% after 100°C/24h) extends coolant service life by 20%.

• Corrosion Inhibition: Exhibits excellent compatibility with corrosion inhibitors (e.g., silicates, carboxylates) in coolant formulations, reducing corrosion rates of cast iron, aluminum alloy, and copper by 15-20% compared to conventional ethylene glycol, lowering engine cooling system maintenance costs.

4. Corporate Collaboration Case and Customized Solutions

A leading global polyester manufacturer (specializing in textile and beverage bottle raw materials) and a top-tier automotive coolant supplier have successfully integrated this low-carbon eco-ethylene glycol into their production systems:

Joint Statement from Collaborative Enterprises:“After replacing traditional ethylene glycol, our polyester fiber production line achieved a 4% reduction in energy consumption per unit product, and the carbon footprint of the final textile decreased by 6%. For automotive coolants, the product’s low impurity content and stable performance eliminated the need for additional purification steps in formulation, reducing production cycle time by 12%. We have included this product in our 2024 core raw material procurement plan, with an annual purchase volume totaling 10,000 tonnes.”

To meet diverse downstream demands, the manufacturer offers tailored enterprise-level solutions:

• Customization Services: Provides grades for specific applications (polyester-grade, antifreeze-grade, industrial-grade) with adjustable purity (99.8%-99.95%) and water content, supporting small-batch trial production (minimum order quantity: 5 tonnes).

• Compliance Support: One-stop provision of REACH registration documents, SDS reports, and compliance certificates for major markets (EU, US, China, Southeast Asia) to streamline downstream import and application processes.

• Market Program: New customers with initial orders exceeding 20 tonnes receive free compatibility testing reports for polyester polymerization or coolant formulation; long-term partners purchasing ISCC PLUS-certified batches are eligible for carbon credit-based price rebates.

5. Verifiable Data and Safety Assurance

All performance and safety claims are based on publicly verifiable test data and international standards:

The mass production of this low-carbon eco-ethylene glycol marks a significant advancement in the sustainable development of basic petrochemical raw materials. It provides powerful core ingredient support for downstream industries such as polyester and automotive manufacturing, helping brands respond to global carbon reduction policies and market demand for "low-carbon," "eco-friendly," and "high-performance" products. As the industry shifts toward green transformation, this breakthrough is expected to drive a broader upgrade in the sustainability of the ethylene glycol industrial chain.