State-owned energy and mining company CHN Energy Investment Group completed a continuos three-day operational test of a pilot plant that produces metallocene polyalphaolefin (mPAO) dervived from coal, according to reports in Chinese media. The test is a step further toward commercial domestic production of coal-based synthetic base oils.
The pilot plant is operated by Ningxia Coal Industry, a CHN Energy subsidiary, which has been developing coal-derived synthetic lubricant technology for several years.
The company claims it can produce high-viscosity mPAO with performance comparable to mainstream market products, citing research in 20217 on the production of metallocene PAO8 using coal-derived olefins that said the resulting base oil had properties comparable to Chevron’s commercial PAO8, including similar pour point, volatility and oxidative stability.
The development covers catalyst formulation, continuous polymerization and refining, with Ningxia Coal Industry reporting that it has developed a process technology package with independent intellectual property rights.
Metallocene PAOs are used in demanding applications because of their viscosity-temperature performance, low-temperature fluidity and resistance to oxidation. Applications include aerospace equipment, precision instruments and wind turbine gearboxes.
The company has not disclosed a construction timetable, investment cost or planned production capacity. Commercial-scale output and market availability remain unconfirmed.