World’s First 50,000-ton PGA Demonstration Project Put into Operation

On September 19, the 50,000-ton degradable PGA materials demonstration project of Yulin Chemical Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China Energy, was officially put into operation, marking that the world’s first degradable PGA project achieved industrialized production. It plays an important role in pushing China’s coal chemical industry to high-end, diversified, and low-carbon development.

The 50,000-ton PGA demonstration project of Yulin Chemical Co., Ltd.

Degradable PGA materials have a plethora of advantages, such as full biological degradability, high biocompatibility, and remarkable mechanical and insulation performance, which can be degraded in soil and sea water. As plastics are restricted or banned in many countries around the world and environmental protection requirements become increasingly strict, degradable PGA materials are ideal substitutes for plastics, which can be used to manufacture bags, food boxes, and straws, as well as bridge plugs, fracturing balls, and various caulking materials in oil and gas exploration, and surgical sutures and bone scaffolds in medical treatments. They provide a new path for China to control plastic pollution, satisfy people’s needs, and remove technological bottlenecks in relevant fields.

The coal-based degradable materials produced by the project adopt the technologies of which China Energy owns independent intellectual property, and all key equipment is home-grown. Compared to traditional POF plastics, coal-based degradable PGA materials can reduce coal consumption by 50% and CO2 emissions by 65%, and increase industrial output by 2 to 3 times at the similar cost. For this reason, the project shows strong market competitiveness and great environmental benefits.