OPP Domestic Production And Market Situation

The production of o-phenylphenol in China began in the late 1970s. Tianjin Weijin Chemical Plant, Shanghai Dyestuff Chemical Plant, Dalian Chemical Research and Design Institute and other units can recover o-phenylphenol from the distillation residue of phenol production by sulfonation, and the extraction purity can also reach 98%. However, due to the backward process and the limitation of raw material sources, there are not many enterprises using this process in China, and the output is limited. With the shutdown and operation of domestic phenol production plant by sulfonation method, the output of o-phenylphenol becomes less and less. Domestic demand mainly depends on imports, which seriously restricts the development of new flame retardant fibers and materials, LED luminous matrix, fruit and vegetable preservation, plastic heat stabilizers and other industries in China.

In the early 1990s, with the increasing demand for o-phenylphenol at home and abroad, China set off an upsurge in the development of o-phenylphenol, and many domestic scientific research institutions carried out research on the production process of o-phenylphenol. From 1992 to 1994, Shanxi Institute of Coal Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, conducted research on synthesis of o-phenylphenol by polymerization dehydrogenation of cyclohexanone; From 1993 to 1995, Beijing Research Institute of Chemical Industry carried out research on synthesis of o-phenylphenol by polymerization and dehydrogenation of cyclohexanone, and invested in the construction of a production line in Nanjing. However, due to the high cost, the product cannot be sold, and it is now in a semi shutdown state; Yancheng Huaye Pharmaceutical Chemical Co., Ltd. has conducted technical research and market demonstration on OPP since 1998. In 2000, it established an OPP laboratory. In 2001, Yancheng Huaye Pharmaceutical Chemical Co., Ltd. successfully developed a new process for synthesizing o-phenylphenol by cyclohexanone route in cooperation with two domestic colleges and universities. It has made great innovation in catalyst activity. Palladium ZSM-5 molecular sieves Pd/H-ZSM-5 and Pd/Mg ZSM-5 obtained by ion exchange method are used as catalysts, In the process of synthesizing o-phenylphenol, the activity decay rate was obviously reduced, which solved the problem of catalyst activity in this process. In 2003, the first 200t/a OPP pilot plant was built in China and passed the provincial scientific and technological achievements appraisal. In 2004, the Yancheng OPP Engineering Technology Research Center was established to focus on the research of OPP industrialization and OPP application, which was the first time to realize large-scale industrialized production in China. The 10000t/a o-phenylphenol project will be started in 2005. With the implementation of the 10000t/a OPP project of Yancheng Huaye Pharmaceutical Chemical Co., Ltd., the market competition pattern of inorganic, chlorine containing and bromine containing organic flame retardant materials in China will be completely rewritten from now on. The chlorine and bromine series flame retardant materials in areas closely related to human health will accelerate their withdrawal from the market, and the technological upgrading of flame retardant materials industry is irresistible, Flame retardant materials will be widely used.

OPP is an important new fine chemical and important chemical intermediate. It is widely used as an antiseptic and fresh-keeping agent for food, fruits and vegetables. It is widely used as an antiseptic for oranges in Europe, America and Japan, which can minimize the decay. It is also allowed to be used as an antiseptic for vegetables, apples, pears, pineapples, peaches, strawberries, etc. in the United States, Britain, Japan and other countries. This product is a powerful bactericide, disinfectant, antiseptic and fresh-keeping agent, tuberculocidal agent, microbial resistance agent and mildew inhibitor. There are nearly 200 kinds of germicidal soaps, germicidal deodorant cleaning agents, anti-corrosion and fresh-keeping agents with o-phenylphenol or its sodium salt as the main component allowed to be used by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and these products are considered non-toxic. In addition, they are also used for cellulose, protein materials, including wood, leather, paper anti-corrosion, plasticizer, flame retardant and other products. It should be pointed out that o-phenylphenol for the above purposes is only produced by cyclohexanone process, and o-phenylphenol produced by other processes cannot be used for the above products.

Qingdao Xinshuo Fine Chemical Co., Ltd., a joint venture of Taiwan Sanhe Chemical and Qingdao Chemical Research Institute in the mainland, also successfully developed and matured this product in 2006, reaching the level of Japan Sanguang, and exported it to European and American countries through Taiwan's parent company.