Clariant, a sustainability-focused specialty chemicals company, announced the successful deployment of its FAMAX™ formaldehyde catalysts at two large-scale production facilities operated by Yihua Group in China. The advanced catalyst technology, integrated with process solutions from engineering partner Wuxi Xiyuan Engineering Technology Co., Ltd., is delivering strong operational performance at a 100 kt/a formaldehyde plant in Inner Mongolia and a 120 kt/a facility in Hubei province. The Inner Mongolia plant commenced operations in March 2026, while the Hubei facility was commissioned in November 2025.
Supporting World-Scale Pentaerythritol Production
Both iron-molybdenum formaldehyde plants supply high-quality feedstock to downstream world-scale pentaerythritol production units. The projects further strengthen Yihua Group’s position as one of the leading global producers of pentaerythritol. By implementing Clariant’s FAMAX™ catalyst technology, the facilities have achieved improved operational efficiency, enhanced formaldehyde yields and reduced energy consumption.
Advanced Catalyst Technology Improves Plant Performance
Clariant stated that the FAMAX™ catalysts significantly improve plant productivity while supporting superior product quality. The catalyst design reduces pressure drop by 10–15%, helping optimise reactor performance and potentially lowering capital costs through more efficient reactor configurations.
Additionally, the catalyst’s advanced chemical composition improves low-temperature activity, allowing plants to operate at lower cooling temperatures while maintaining lower hotspot temperatures. As a result, the process achieves higher reaction selectivity, reduced by-product formation and longer catalyst life.
Yihua Group Highlights Successful Collaboration
Lulu Zhu, Project Manager at Yihua Group, praised the performance of Clariant’s catalyst technology and Wuxi Xiyuan’s engineering expertise. She noted that the integrated solution enabled the company to achieve ambitious production targets efficiently while maintaining the high-quality formaldehyde feedstock required for pentaerythritol manufacturing. According to Zhu, the successful collaboration has strengthened Yihua Group’s confidence in continuing partnerships with Clariant and Wuxi Xiyuan for future world-scale projects.
Clariant Focuses on Sustainable and Efficient Production
Nora Schiefenhoevel, Vice President and Head of Clariant Specialty Catalysts, said the projects demonstrate the proven value of FAMAX™ catalyst technology in large-scale formaldehyde production. She added that the partnership with Yihua Group supports the company’s long-term growth strategy while highlighting the importance of integrated technology solutions for China’s expanding mega-project sector. Clariant also emphasised that its decades of expertise in formaldehyde catalyst technology continue to support advancements in iron-molybdenum-based formaldehyde production across the region.
EnviCat™ Catalyst Enhances Emission Control
As per the press release, in addition to FAMAX™, Clariant’s high-performance EnviCat™ emission control catalyst was selected for off-gas treatment at both facilities. The EnviCat™ system removes harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with conversion efficiencies of up to 99% and beyond, while operating effectively at temperatures as low as 400°C. This enables lower fuel consumption, reduced equipment stress and improved operational safety, delivering significant economic and environmental benefits for producers.
