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What are the sources of raw materials for polyester fibers
source：www.artisanleather.com.cn | Release time：2025-07-021、 Core raw materials: terephthalic acid (PTA) and ethylene glycol (EG)
1. Raw material sources of terephthalic acid (PTA)
Petroleum cracking products:
The production of PTA uses p-xylene (PX) as an intermediate raw material, which originates from aromatic hydrocarbon mixtures generated by petroleum catalytic reforming or naphtha cracking. The specific path is:
Petroleum → Naphtha → Catalytic reforming/steam cracking → Benzene, toluene, xylene (including p-xylene PX).
PX undergoes oxidation reaction (such as oxidation with oxygen in acetic acid solvent) to produce terephthalic acid.
Alternative raw materials (few scenarios):
Some processes attempt to extract raw materials from coal chemical or biomass (such as preparing PX from coal to synthesis gas), but currently petroleum based PX is still the main industry.
2. Raw material sources of ethylene glycol (EG)
Petrochemical pathway:
EG is mainly synthesized through the hydration of ethylene oxide (EO), which comes from the catalytic oxidation of ethylene. The specific path is:
Petroleum → Naphtha → Steam Cracking → Ethylene → Catalytic Oxidation (Silver Catalyst) → Ethylene Oxide → Hydration Reaction → Ethylene Glycol.
Coal chemical pathway (recent development):
Using coal as raw material, synthesis gas (CO+H ?) is produced through coal gasification, and then ethylene glycol is synthesized through intermediate products such as methanol and formaldehyde. For example, coal to ethylene glycol technology has been industrialized in China, but cost and purity still need to be optimized.
2、 Auxiliary raw materials and additives
1. Catalysts and solvents
Aggregation reaction catalysts: such as antimony based catalysts (antimony trioxide), germanium based or titanium based catalysts, used to promote the condensation reaction of PTA and EG.
Solvent: Acetic acid is commonly used as a solvent for oxidation reactions in PTA production.
2. Functional modified additives
Extinguishing agent: such as titanium dioxide (TiO ?), used to reduce fiber gloss.
Flame retardants: such as phosphorus based and bromine based compounds, endow fibers with flame retardant properties.
Antistatic agents: such as quaternary ammonium salts, reduce the accumulation of static electricity in fibers.
Coloring agent: Directly adding pigments or dyes to achieve coloring of fiber stock solution.
3、 The industrial chain correlation of raw material production
1. Raw material dependence and industry characteristics
Oil dependence: Over 90% of PTA and EG worldwide are derived from oil, making the polyester fiber industry significantly affected by fluctuations in international oil prices.
The trend of coal chemical substitution: China is promoting coal to ethylene glycol technology due to its energy structure of "rich coal and poor oil". By 2023, the domestic coal to ethylene glycol production capacity has reached about 30%, but it is mainly used for industrial grade products. Chemical fiber grade high-purity ethylene glycol is still mainly based on petroleum.
4、 Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development Direction
1. Raw material sources for recycled polyester fibers
Waste PET recycling: such as plastic bottles (PET bottles) and waste textiles, which are cleaned, crushed, melted and granulated, and then reused as polyester fiber raw materials to achieve recycling. For example, 1 ton of waste PET bottles can produce approximately 0.85 tons of recycled polyester fibers.
Chemical recycling technology: By depolymerization (such as alcoholysis and hydrolysis), waste PET is decomposed into PTA and EG monomers, and then re polymerized to improve the purity of recycled materials.
2. Exploration of bio based polyester raw materials
Biobased PTA: using microbial fermentation or plant extraction to prepare terephthalic acid, such as the technology developed by American company DuPont for producing bio based PX from plant sugar fermentation, but it has not yet been industrialized on a large scale.
Biobased EG: using biomass such as sugarcane and corn as raw materials, lactic acid is produced through fermentation, and then chemically converted to produce EG, which is currently in the research and development or pilot stage.
5、 Typical raw material suppliers and industry distribution
International giants such as BP, Eastman, Mitsubishi Chemical, etc. control the core technology and production capacity of petroleum based PTA and EG.
Concentrated production capacity in China: China is the world's largest producer of polyester fibers, with PTA and EG production capacity mainly distributed in coastal areas such as Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Fujian. Enterprises such as Hengli Petrochemical and Rongsheng Petrochemical have formed an integrated industrial chain of "crude oil aromatics polyester".
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