Currently, the most widely used plasticizer alcohols are 2-propylheptanol (2-PH) and isononyl alcohol (INA), primarily applied in the production of next-generation plasticizers. Esters synthesized from higher alcohols such as 2-PH and INA offer greater safety and environmental friendliness.
2-PH reacts with phthalic anhydride to form di(2-propylheptyl) phthalate (DPHP). PVC products plasticized with DPHP exhibit superior electrical insulation, weather resistance, low volatility, and low physico-chemical properties, making them widely applicable in cables, household appliances, automotive component films, and flooring plastics. Additionally, 2-PH can be used to synthesize high-performance general-purpose nonionic surfactants. In 2012, BASF and Sinopec Yangzi Petrochemical jointly commissioned an 80,000-ton-per-year 2-PH production facility, China’s first 2-PH plant. In 2014, Shenhua Baotou Coal Chemical Company launched a 60,000-ton-per-year 2-PH production unit, China’s first coal-based 2-PH project. Currently, several companies with coal-to-olefin projects are planning 2-PH facilities, including Yanchang Petroleum (80,000 tons/year), China Coal Shaanxi Yulin (60,000 tons/year), and Inner Mongolia Daxin (72,700 tons/year).
INA is mainly used to produce diisononyl phthalate (DINP), an important general-purpose plasticizer. The International Council of Toy Industries has deemed DINP non-hazardous to children, and its growing demand in recent years has driven increased consumption of INA. DINP is widely used in automotive, cables, flooring, construction, and other industrial sectors. In October 2015, a 50:50 joint venture between Sinopec and BASF officially commenced production at an 180,000-ton-per-year INA plant in Maoming, Guangdong—the only INA production facility in China. Domestic consumption stands at around 300,000 tons, leaving a supply gap. Before this project, China relied entirely on imports for INA, with 286,000 tons imported in 2016.
Both 2-PH and INA are produced by reacting butenes from C4 streams with syngas (H₂ and CO). The process employs noble metal complex catalysts, and the synthesis and selectivity of these catalysts remain key bottlenecks in domestic 2-PH and INA production. In recent years, several Chinese research institutions have made progress in INA production technology and catalyst development. For instance, Tsinghua University’s C1 Chemistry Laboratory used mixed octenes from butene oligomerization as feedstock and a rhodium catalyst with triphenylphosphine oxide as a ligand, achieving a 90% yield of isononanal, providing a solid foundation for industrial scale-up.
Post time: Jul-14-2025