Willing’s 10,000-ton Accelerator Micro-chemical Technology Leading the World

◎ Meng Jing

The achievement was commonly completed by Willing New Materials Technology Co., Ltd. and Tsinghua University. They created the micro-chemical continuous flow process and production equipment based on the principles of micromixing, microextraction and microreaction for the key production links of rubber accelerators MBT and MBTS. The product indicators produced are superior to the national standards, and the achievement has good using effects from users and significant economic and social benefits.

The appraisal committee believes that this technology is innovative and its overall technology has reached the international leading level. It is recommended to further expand the popularization and application of this technological achievement.

The main innovations of this technology reflect on:

In terms of MBT, firstly, the first set of MBT 10,000-ton industrialized continuous flow production equipment based on micromixing enhancement in the world is built, and a new process of multi-stage precise temperature control reaction with a capacity of 22,000 tons/year is proposed. Compared with the traditional intermittent reaction, the reaction time is reduced from 8 hours to 3.5 hours, the equipment volume is reduced by 67%, the construction cost is reduced by more than 50%, the MBT comprehensive yield is increased from 90% to 95%, and the energy consumption is reduced by 60%. Secondly, the first MBT micro-dispersion extraction continuous refining device and process in the world is developed. The benzothiazole (BT), a by-product of MBT alkali solution, is separated by toluene extraction, solving the emulsification problem of the system. The BT extraction rate is more than 99%, and the device is reduced in size to 10% of the conventional equipment.

In terms of MBTS, the first set of 10,000-ton MBTS microreaction continuous synthesis device and technology in the world is developed. The H2O2 mixed acid multi-stage oxidation process is proposed, and a 12,000-ton/year industrial demonstration device is built. The MBTS yield is greater than 98%. Compared with the original process, the device volume is reduced to 1/25, the wastewater discharge is reduced by 67%, and the wastewater COD value is reduced by 60%.

It is learned that the “three wastes” problem of rubber chemical has no good solution all around the world, and the production uses intermittent reaction, so there is still much room for improvement in product yield and quality. In order to solve the common problems in this industry, by studying the characteristics and rules of “three transfers and one reaction” at the micro spacetime scale, Willing New Materials and Tsinghua University work together to transform the production of traditional products by utilizing micro-chemical continuous flow production which combines production capacity and production efficiency, achieving overtaking at one stroke.

Accelerator MBT (ie, accelerator M) microreaction pipeline continuous process technology has also been included in the Guidelines for the Development of Industrial Key Common Technologies issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in 2017.