The Petrochemical Research and Technology Company has succeeded in indigenizing two polyolefin catalysts used in the production of polypropylene and high-density polyethylene.
The two catalysts, PZ and RZ, were previously imported from the Japanese company Mitsui Chemicals but due to the US sanctions in recent years, the country had difficulty importing them. Therefore, experts and engineers at PRTC endeavored and succeeded in acquiring the knowhow for producing the catalysts.
Bandar Imam, Mehr, Ilam and Miandoab petrochemical companies use the catalysts in polyethylene production units.
The project to produce catalysts was implemented at the Arak Center of PRTC in Markazi Province.
The semi-industrial unit in Arak is designed to annually produce 1,200 tons of polypropylene and HDPE catalysts.
Last year, the production of polypropylene from natural gas was started in Mahshahr, Khuzestan Province, by PRTC experts and engineers, while a similar project is underway in Eslamabad-e-Gharb in Kermanshah Province.
A methanol to propylene unit in Mahshahr was launched last year and produces 40 kg of propylene from methanol per hour.
Iran accounts for 5% of the world's methanol production and most of it is exported to Iraq, China, the UAE, India and South Korea.
However, turning methanol into propylene creates added value. Propylene output is about 980,000 tons per year. However, domestic demand is much higher and plans are underway to increase production to 4 million tons by constructing three plants in three cities, namely Amirabad in Mazandaran Province, Bandar Anzali in Gilan Province and Asalouyeh in Bushehr Province.
Propylene is a colorless fuel gas with a naturally pungent smell. It is a key commodity in the petrochemical industry and can be transformed into value added products like polypropylene and create jobs in the downstream petrochemical sector.
Polypropylene – the world's second-most widely produced synthetic plastic, after polyethylene – is used in a variety of applications, including packaging and labeling, textiles, carpets, stationery, plastic parts and reusable containers, laboratory equipment, loudspeakers, automotive parts and polymer banknotes.
Polyethylene is the world's most versatile and widely produced polymer. High-density polyethylene is a thermoplastic polymer produced from monomer ethylene. It is used for producing plastic bottles, corrosion-resistant piping, geo-membranes and plastic lumber.
Demand for polyethylene worldwide is expected to jump due to a rise in packaged goods and fast changing urban lifestyles.
Catalyst Production
Of the 40 types of catalysts used in the petrochemical industry, 22 have been indigenized and the remaining groups are being developed.
A catalyst speeds up a chemical reaction but is not consumed by it. Most solid catalysts are metals or oxides, sulfides and halides of metallic elements and semi-metallic elements such as boron, aluminum and silicon.
The domestically-produced catalysts are worth $123 million. Iranian companies annually use at least 23,000 tons of catalysts.
Catalyst consumption is rising and local companies are improving their R&D to not fall behind foreign competitors.
PRTC is the mainstay for research and production of technology in all petrochemical fields. It helps create tech security and contributes to economic growth by exporting know-how.
