December 2, 2004

China Reportedly Expects to Begin Methionine Trial Production by March 2006

An eFeedLink Exclusive Report  

China's Shandong Tianyi Company recently said that it has plans to establish a 30,000-ton methionine production facility in Shandong province. The company is reportedly making preparation to begin its medium-scale laboratory trial production in March 2005. The construction of a methionine production facility is planned for completion by March 2006.

A director of Tianyi Company, Mr Fu Yongming, said that the company plans to start its first round of medium-scale laboratory trial production in March 2005. The construction and installation of the production facility for the 30,000-ton methionine production plant will be completed in 10 to 12 months. The company said that over 90% of the equipment and installations for the plant is to be manufactured in China.

The company has set a target for the production plant, which is to be built in Dong'e Township of Shandong province, to officially commence trial production by March 2006.

In the past, China lacked the capability to produce the chemical raw materials required for methionine production as well as the operational technology. These have reportedly being enhanced in the past several years.

The key raw materials needed for methionine production are propylene, hydrogen sulfide and prussic acid (or sodium cyanide). A 30,000-ton methionine production facility requires 13,500 tons of propylene, 36,600 tons of sodium cyanide and 9,400 tons of hydrogen sulfide as raw material inputs.

Currently, China is capable of producing 1.5 to 1.6 million tons of propylene and 90,000 tons of sodium cyanide per year. Hydrogen sulfide is produced in large volume by separation from natural gas or obtained as a by-product through the process of petroleum refining and inorganic salt production. Some big petroleum refineries in China also possess sizable volume of hydrogen sulfide required for methionine production.