Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose

1, Product overview
Cellulose ether is a kind of important water-soluble polymer, is a general term for a series of products with natural cellulose after alkalization and etherification of cellulose ether into ionic and nonionic two types of products, products are mainly ionic carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), non-ionic products including the methyl cellulose (MC), hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), ethyl cellulose (EC), hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) etc..
Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose is a non-ionic cellulose alkyl mixed alkyl ether obtained by the process of alkalization, etherification, neutralization and washing. HPMC is a water-soluble non-ionic cellulose ether, which is the product of partial substitution of methoxy methoxyl group in methyl cellulose (MC).
HPMC is a white powder, odorless, odorless, non-toxic, in the human body no change in the surface of the body, the product is soluble in water, but not soluble in hot water, water solution is colorless, transparent and viscous. A nonionic cellulose ether as excellent performance, HPMC and CMC, MC, HEC, CMHEC, HEMC and HBMC have excellent cellulose ether, thickening, emulsification, dispersion, film, protective colloid, water retention, adhesion, acid and alkali resistance, enzyme properties, insoluble in water, the following can dissolved in 70% ethanol and acetone, with adhesion, thickening and film-forming properties.

2, Product use
(1) the construction industry: insurance agent, as cement retarder make mortar has a pump, with mortar, gypsum material, putty powder or other materials as adhesive, improve the workability and prolong the operation time, paste used for ceramic tile, marble, plastic decorative paste enhancer, can also reduce the dosage of cement. The water retention property of HPMC makes the slurry not crack because of drying too fast and strengthen the strength after hardening.
(2) ceramic manufacturing: it is widely used as adhesive in the manufacture of ceramic products
(3) coating industry: as a thickening agent, dispersant and stabilizer in coating industry, it has solubility in water or organic solvent. As a coating agent.
(4) ink printing: in the ink industry as a thickening agent, dispersant and stabilizer, in water or organic solvents have good compatibility.
(5): plastic as shape release agent, softener, lubricants etc..
(6) polyvinyl chloride: as dispersant in polyvinyl chloride production, suspension polymerization is the main assistant of PVC.
(7) other: This product is also widely used in leather, paper products, fruit and vegetable preservation and textile industry.
(8) pharmaceutical industry: coating material: membrane material; slow release preparation of speed control polymer material; stabilizer; suspension; tablet adhesive; tackifier.

3, Production technology
(1) domestic and foreign technology present situation
At present, non-ionic cellulose ether production technology in the world advanced main Dow Chemical Company (Dow Chemical Co.), Hull Chris (Hercules Co.), the German Kelailite company (Clariant Co.) production technology. Shin-Etsu chemical (Shinelsu Chemical Co.), South Korea's Samsung fine chemical company (Samsung Fine Chemical Co.) respectively from the Dow Chemical Company and Germany Lu Dige company (Loedige Co.) technology.
The production process of domestic HPMC by batch production, but the technology is relatively backward, the base product is defective in quality control, the differences of each product quality, only by reducing the index way to sell products, to meet the requirements in many areas not; at the same time, due to the domestic scale is generally small, scale up there is a big risk.
Compared with foreign technology, domestic technology is at a distinct disadvantage in terms of technology, equipment, scale, after-sale service, environmental protection and automatic control.
At present, China's enterprises actively combined with foreign professional manufacturers, and even the introduction of technology and equipment from abroad, such as Kamimi Megumihiro Fine Chemical Co., the horizontal reaction relatively advanced equipment in Germany, using the most advanced international a gas solid reaction machine technology, using DCS automated production control system; the United States of Sichuan and Luzhou North Chemical Company Hercules industrial limited company also established a joint venture in Suzhou, Jiangsu flying company reached a joint venture production of methyl cellulose and its derivatives industry intention with the United States Hercules Inc in 2006, the complete set of equipment and technology introduction in the United States, these have greatly accelerated the introduction of ionic ether production and research in China's non.
(2) brief introduction of production process
Process for producing cellulose ether has its generality, namely refined cotton or wood pulp by liquid caustic soda impregnation, pressing to remove the excess lye, get alkali cellulose, adding solvent, etherification agent at a certain temperature, etherification reaction pressure, reaction end point with the desired degree of etherification prevail, then neutralized by washing, drying and crushing other products.
The key equipments for producing HPMC are reactor, dryer, granulator, pulverizer and so on. At present, many foreign manufacturers adopt the equipment produced in germany. Domestic production equipment, whether it is production capacity, or manufacturing quality, can not meet the high quality HPMC production needs.
All-In-One Reactor produced in Germany can realize one equipment, complete many process steps, realize automatic control, product quality is stable, production operation is safe and reliable.
The main raw materials for producing HPMC are refined cotton, sodium hydroxide, methyl chloride, propylene oxide and so on.

 4. Suggestions for developing HPMC projects
(1) the construction of HPMC projects in China faces good opportunities for development
In 2001 and 2003, the State Economic and Trade Commission respectively issued the second batch and the third batch of national key technological transformation of two high and one excellent "project oriented program (i.e. high tech industrialization, university technology and advanced technology to transform traditional industries, optimize the structure of key products and Technology), clearly pointed out that the special fine chemical products, especially in the domestic market a large gap, mainly rely on imports of products, such as hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose ether to focus on transformation, improve existing products and increase the depth of processing, product specifications, this policy, not only clear the HPMC is the domestic market gap, mainly rely on imports, and that the State encourages the development of special fine chemical products policy.
In 2000, China cellulose ether industry association put forward vigorously the development of cellulose derivatives and other fine chemical products, in the industrial structure adjustment plan, proposed to focus on the development of non-ionic cellulose ether, especially MC/HPMC products, China Chlor Alkali Industry Association in the development of chlorine products downstream product planning, put forward the idea of developing MC/HPMC products, the State Planning Commission on investment and China Engineering Consulting Association and the service government will MC/HPMC as a key development projects.
According to the development of cellulose products abroad, the country is increasing along with the economic development of the HPMC demand for such products, Chinese is one of the fastest growing economy in the world countries therefore, HPMC application in China is very broad, it is a favorable opportunity to the development of this project.
(2) my HPMC products have great market potential
At present, the market is still in China cellulose ether ionic products (CMC), accounting for more than 95% of total consumption, non-ionic cellulose ether (MC, HPMC, HEC etc.) accounted for only 5% of total consumption, while in developed countries, consumption of these two products each accounted for 50%. due to non isolated sub cellulose ether salt resistance, good heat resistance, but also has the appropriate surface active, can adapt to the modern trend of advocating the development is very rapid. CMC is still a big market because of its ease of manufacture and low price, but some parts of the traditional market have either been replaced by non-ionic cellulose ethers. Expected with the non-ionic cellulose ether manufacturing process to further improve and perfect, the cost has been reduced, non-ionic cellulose ether consumption showed an overall upward trend, according to the Chinese cellulose industry and foreign manufacturers are expected in the next few years, the amount of MC/HPMC demand in China could reach 15% per year growth rate,
It is mainly based on the following reasons: first, with the success of Beijing's bid for the 2008 Olympic Games, it will gradually reach the international advanced level in the construction of the Olympic Stadium and the construction of urban infrastructure. MC/HPMC as an excellent additive in construction and coatings, will be widely used, and as a demonstration effect, to promote the use of MC/HPMC products in the national construction and coating industry. The two is with the popularity of city commercial concrete and reduce cellulose product price, master of commercial concrete can add MC/HPMC products to enhance the rheological properties and water retention performance, gradually replace the existing cement admixture, MC/HPMC will have broad application prospects. Three is the domestic PVC industry development will drive MC/HPMC demand. In 2005, China's PVC production is expected to reach 4 million tons, the required amount of HPMC is 1200 tons, -1400 tons.
Four, in the field of medicine and food, with the improvement of people's health and environmental awareness, MC/HPMC, which is harmless to the environment and does not pollute the environment, will gradually replace CMC and get rapid development.
According to the above analysis, by 2006, China's MC/HPMC market demand is expected to be 4000 tons, -5000 tons. To this end, the major foreign manufacturers are China as the biggest potential market, have expanded production capacity, crowding the Chinese market.
(3) the construction of HPMC project has good economic benefits
According to preliminary estimates, in accordance with the needs of the current China market, the introduction of foreign production technology, the construction of a world with a level of production, annual output of 6000 tons of HPMC plant, the project total investment of about 400 million yuan (including liquidity), device production, average selling price by 65 thousand yuan / tons, the average annual sales income is 390 million yuan. The annual profit is 46%, the project financial internal rate of return is 30%, the economic benefit is significant. After the project is completed and commissioned, it will take only 3 years to recover all the investment.
Thus, in the current favorable opportunity, and vigorously developing the HPMC project, not only conforms to the national and industrial development policies, to meet the growing domestic market demand, but also can shorten our cellulose industry with foreign advanced countries, promoting the development of national economy, create enormous economic benefits for the enterprise.