Clariant SynDane Catalyst Performs Excellently at Wanhua Maleic Anhydride Plant

Clariant, a specialty chemicals company focused on sustainability, recently announced that its SynDane 3142 LA catalyst has demonstrated excellent performance at Wanhua Chemical's maleic anhydride plant in Yantai, Shandong Province, China. The catalyst, commissioned in 2024, has been operating effectively, delivering on its promise of efficiency and sustainability.

The SynDane catalyst has achieved excellent performance at the Yantai plant, significantly increasing yields and significantly reducing by-product formation. The Yantai plant is one of the largest maleic anhydride plants in the world, with an annual production capacity of 200,000 tons. SynDane's innovative design contributes to sustainable development by reducing pressure drop and energy consumption.

Nora Schiefenhoevel, Vice President and Head of Clariant's Specialty Catalysts business, said: "We are very pleased with the excellent performance of our SynDane catalyst at the Wanhua plant. The high selectivity and high yields achieved demonstrate the long-term value our innovative solutions can deliver. This is a special project for us because we can demonstrate how our broad product portfolio can provide comprehensive, sustainable solutions that improve energy efficiency and boost productivity."

Clariant's Applied Catalysts Technology team in Panjin, China, provided comprehensive technical support throughout the project. Their expertise and dedication were key factors in achieving the current strong operational performance. The recent implementation of Clariant's advanced digital platform, CLARITY, further enhanced collaboration, enabling efficient data exchange and analysis for continuous optimization of plant performance.

SynDane 3142 LA is a selective oxidation catalyst with Clariant's proprietary double-alpha shape, which offers physical and chemical properties that maximize selectivity in maleic anhydride production while significantly reducing pressure drop compared to traditional ring-shaped catalysts.