- Cyclohexanone produced via cyclohexene esterification then hydrogenation, converting acetic acid into anhydrous ethanol.
- Single-pass conversion >99.95%; equilibrium conversion >8× vs hydration route; activation energy −14%.
- Waste discharge reduced >70% and CO₂ emissions cut >38%; >40 Chinese patents and 3 international patents filed.
- First commercial unit (two 200,000 t/yr lines) commissioned at Hunan Petrochemical, cutting CO₂ by 1.8 million tons/year.
Award
Sinoketol, RIPP’s cyclohexanone production technology, won the Gold Medal at the 51st International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva, selected from over 1,000 inventions submitted by 35 countries and regions.
Technology and performance
The RIPP Caprolactam Team led by Zong Baoning developed a novel route: cyclohexene esterification followed by hydrogenation. Compared with the cyclohexene hydration route it achieves thermodynamic and kinetic gains—equilibrium conversion is more than eight times higher and activation energy is reduced by 14%—and delivers single‑pass conversion above 99.95%, removing the need for energy‑intensive cyclohexene separation. The process converts acetic acid to anhydrous ethanol, lowers production costs (hundreds of yuan/ton vs hydration, thousands vs cyclohexane oxidation), reduces waste discharge by over 70% and cuts CO₂ emissions by more than 38%, and includes a full‑process safety risk control system.
Commercial deployment and IP
The world’s first commercial implementation—two 200,000 t/yr lines—has been commissioned at Hunan Petrochemical, with an annual CO₂ reduction of about 1.8 million tonnes; more than 40 Chinese patents and three international patents have been filed to secure the technology.
