Clariant to supply catalysts for China’s first biomass-to-green methanol project

Swiss chemical firm Clariant has announced that its MegaMax catalyst has been selected for China’s biomass gasification-to-green methanol project. The plant will use a combination of farm waste and wind power to produce up to 250,000 tonnes/year of green methanol in two phases by 2027. Construction of the first plant phase began in March 2024 and is expected to start producing green methanol in the first half of 2025 as China’s first commercialised biomass gasification-to-green methanol plant.

Georg Anfang, Vice President Syngas and Fuels at Clariant Catalysts, commented that Clariant’s MegaMax is an “excellent solution” as it provides enhanced stability and tolerance to the fluctuation of the system required for green methanol production.

“It also offers outstanding activity – even at very low reactor temperatures and pressures. Thanks to the catalyst’s enhanced selectivity, production yield is low in by-product formation, significantly improving the economics of green methanol synthesis,” he added.

Clariant will provide comprehensive technical service to ensure optimal catalyst performance through its Applied Catalyst Technology (ACT) team of highly qualified engineers and experts. Further support can be provided through the Clarity digital service portal, which offers access to real-time plant data to enhance reliability, safety, and profitability.