On December 16, the Maoming Acrylic Acid Industrial Park project officially commenced construction. Located in the Maoming Zero-Carbon Industrial Park, the project boasts a total investment of 11.5 billion yuan and will employ the world-leading "one-step propane oxidation to acrylic acid" technology. This initiative will establish a new industrial chain of "propane-acrylic acid-superabsorbent resin."
The recent Central Economic Work Conference emphasized the establishment of zero-carbon parks. Maoming has taken a proactive step by planning and developing a 101-square-kilometer zero-carbon industrial park in the Binhai New Area. Phase I of the Donghua Energy (Maoming) Alkane Resource Utilization Project was completed and put into operation last year, serving as the anchor enterprise to accelerate the formation of a green chemical industry cluster.
Once operational, the Maoming Acrylic Acid Industrial Park project will provide a stable supply of raw materials for downstream industries such as construction, textiles, coatings, and hygiene products. This will attract related upstream and downstream industries to cluster in the chemical park, creating a complete industrial chain and promoting the park's development toward high-end and precision manufacturing.
At the groundbreaking ceremony, Tao Chunfeng, Chairman of Keyuan Holding Group Co., Ltd., stated that every effort would be made to accelerate the project's progress. The first phase is expected to be completed by the end of 2025, with installation and commissioning complete by May 2026 before being ready for production.
Industry research data indicates that over the next three years, China's annual demand for acrylic acid is expected to grow by 200,000 tons, acrylic esters by over 100,000 tons, and superabsorbent resin by more than 60,000 tons.
Compared to traditional processes, the Maoming Acrylic Acid Industrial Park project's innovative "direct propane oxidation to acrylic acid" technology represents a revolutionary green chemical breakthrough. It features shorter process flows, lower investment costs, and higher product quality, offering a significant cost advantage over conventional acrylic acid production technologies.
At the ceremony, Academician Peng Xiaojun of the Chinese Academy of Sciences highlighted that the project's one-step propane oxidation technology for acrylic acid was developed after breakthroughs in spatial structural chemistry, confined nanoscale catalysis, and nanoporous materials. The technology incorporates a world-leading catalyst, whose high performance and reliability have been validated through extensive experimentation and pilot testing.
To support the project, Keyuan Holding Group, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, and the Maoming Green Chemical Research Institute have jointly established a collaborative laboratory. The lab will provide pilot-scale production services for 100 tons of catalysts annually, significantly enhancing local and corporate innovation capabilities and offering strong support for the industrialization of scientific and technological achievements.
Reporter/Photo: Zou Xiangliang
Editor: Huang Qini, James, Shen He
