At present, the chemical industry is accelerating its transition toward low-carbon and green development. Driven by carbon neutrality goals and increasingly stringent environmental regulations, process upgrades have become imperative. As a key raw material in pharmaceuticals, new energy, cosmetics and other sectors, the high-end market for 1,2-propanediol has long been dominated by imported petroleum-based products. Recently, a major breakthrough has emerged in China’s green chemical sector: the purity of bio-based 1,2-propanediol has successfully reached 99.9%. This achievement overcomes critical technical barriers, marking China’s official entry into the high-end bio-based propanediol market, injecting new momentum into industrial upgrading and filling the domestic gap for premium bio-based propanediol.

1. Technological breakthrough: upgraded core process meets international high-end standards

The commercialization of high-purity bio-based 1,2-propanediol is built on independently developed innovations in biocatalysis and purification technology. Using biomass glycerol, a by-product of biodiesel production, as the feedstock, a customized copper-based catalyst system and an optimized two-step dehydration–hydrogenation process enable highly efficient conversion and precise purification. As a result, product purity is stably maintained at 99.9%. Professional testing shows that impurity levels, moisture content and heavy metals all reach internationally advanced benchmarks, with key indicators exceeding industry standards. The product can directly meet the requirements of pharmaceutical-grade and electronic-grade applications, effectively breaking the long-standing technological dominance of conventional petroleum-based routes.

2. Product advantages: green and low-carbon with strong cost competitiveness

Compared with traditional petroleum-based 1,2-propanediol, the bio-based product offers three major advantages.

At the environmental level, carbon emissions during production are reduced by 40%–60%, no hazardous by-products are generated, and biomass resources are efficiently valorized, fully aligning with green chemistry trends.At the quality level, its ultra-high and stable purity allows direct substitution for imported premium products, reducing reliance on overseas high-end supply.At the cost level, thanks to renewable raw materials and process optimization, production costs are about 18% lower than conventional routes, while avoiding exposure to crude oil price volatility, resulting in strong market competitiveness.

3. Application scenarios: enabling multiple high-end industries with broad prospects

High-purity bio-based 1,2-propanediol has wide application potential across advanced sectors. In pharmaceuticals, it serves as a solvent and humectant to ensure drug safety and stability. In cosmetics, it enhances moisturizing performance in premium skincare formulations while adding a sustainable attribute. In new energy, it can be used as an additive in lithium battery electrolytes to help optimize battery performance. It is also applicable in biodegradable materials, food additives and other fields. As downstream industries continue to upgrade, market demand is expected to expand steadily.

4. Industry impact: accelerating market transformation and strengthening global competitiveness

In 2025, China’s propanediol market entered a period of adjustment marked by supply–demand imbalance and cost pressure. Against this backdrop, bio-based routes have risen rapidly on the strength of their environmental advantages, with capacity share increasing to around 5%. Mass production of this high-purity grade is expected to push the bio-based capacity share above 8% in 2026, driving the domestic market toward higher-end and greener development. Meanwhile, with the implementation of mechanisms such as the EU’s carbon border measures, the carbon advantage of bio-based products will help Chinese chemical products expand overseas and enhance China’s influence in the global green chemical arena.

Conclusion

Achieving 99.9% purity in bio-based 1,2-propanediol represents a significant technological milestone in China’s green chemical industry. It not only fills the domestic gap in high-end products, but also establishes a complete value chain from biomass feedstock to premium chemical materials. With continued process optimization, capacity expansion and coordinated growth in downstream applications, large-scale commercialization will accelerate. This will support the industry in achieving carbon reduction, cost efficiency and quality improvement, enabling leapfrog development in high-end green chemical materials and contributing a viable low-carbon pathway to the global chemical sector.