Water consumption analysis of olefins production from alternative resources in China. (15th December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xiang, Dong; Gao, Li; Liu, Xia; Guo, Chao; Yang, Siyu; Qian, Yu
• Is Part Of: Journal of cleaner production. Volume 139(2016:Dec. 15)
• Page Start: 146
• Page End: 156
• Publication Date: 2016-12-15
• Subjects: Coal -- Natural gas -- Coke-oven gas -- Methanol -- Olefins -- Water consumption; Factory and trade waste -- Management -- Periodicals; Manufactures -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Déchets industriels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Usines -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; 628.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.08.031
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-6526

Abstract

Abstract: Traditional olefins production is heavily dependent on oil. Due to the short supply of oil resources, there are four possible alternative feedstocks in China: (1) coal; (2) natural gas; (3) coke-oven gas; and (4) methanol, while the coal route is dominant among these processes from the perspective of Chinese fossil resources. Comparative study of the four processes is conducted in concerning of water consumption. Results show that the coal route and coke-oven gas route suffer from high water consumption: 44.2 and 55.0 t/t olefins. On the other side, the natural gas route and the oversea-imported methanol route are 27.2 and 7.3 t/t olefins, much lower than the coal route. The coal route is water intensive, but unfortunately, coal chemical plants are mainly located in the arid northern China. To address this predicament, this paper proposes three suggestions: (1) Adjusting water prices system to arouse the enthusiasm of saving water and energy; (2) Promoting olefins production from co-feeding of coal and gas in areas with rich coal and gas; (3) Encouraging to develop methanol-to-olefins plants in coastal areas. Highlights: Found out that coal based olefins production suffers from high water consumption. Proposed three suggestions for significant water-saving of coal based olefins route. Decreased 15.8% water use of olefins production by using water-saving measures. Planned a development roadmap for alternative olefins production in China.