Lately, the 200,000-ton/year coke oven gas (COG)-to-ethanol project that Southwest Research & Design Institute of the Chemical Industry (SWRDICI) served as the general design institute and provided key technologies successfully opened up the whole process in Anyang, Henan. It produced anhydrous ethanol with a purity of 99.8%, marking the successful commissioning of the world’s first industrial demonstration project for producing anhydrous ethanol via chemical synthesis of COG.

The project adopts SWRDICI’s COG purification, pure oxygen conversion, cryogenic separation, PSA hydrogen extraction, dimethyl ether synthesis and rectification technology. The whole set of process route embraces advanced technology, low energy consumption, less wastes, as well as high product quality. The project uses COG to substitute traditional grain fermentation to produce ethanol, which can save 600,000 tons of grain and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 190,000 tons per year.

COG-to-anhydrous ethanol technology provides a reliable approach for the comprehensive utilization of surplus COG, pollution control, and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in coking enterprises. The commissioning of this project plays a demonstrative and promotional role in improving energy structure and promoting energy conservation and emission reduction.