DODGEN melt crystallization cuts energy 72% in battery solvent purification, MIIT says
technode.globalChina's MIIT has recognized a retrofit by Shanghai DODGEN Chemical Technology that uses continuous melt crystallization to purify ethylene carbonate, a key solvent in lithium-ion battery electrolytes. The process replaces conventional distillation and cuts unit energy consumption from 120.9 to 33.3 kg of standard coal per tonne, a 72% reduction. The project saves 7,884 tonnes of standard coal and avoids about 21,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year on a 90,000-tonne production line. The retrofit was installed in five months and uses multi-stage temperature control to within 0.5 degrees Celsius. DODGEN says the approach is suited for heat-sensitive specialty chemicals where distillation causes thermal degradation and high energy use. The technology supports localization of high-purity electrolyte materials for China's growing battery supply chain. For industrial buyers, the key takeaway is that melt crystallization can deliver deep energy cuts in chemical purification without sacrificing product quality. The MIIT recognition adds credibility to the claimed savings, though independent verification of the 72% figure across different feedstocks would strengthen the case.