Government-selected low-carbon case shows DODGEN continuous melt crystallization replacing conventional distillation, eliminating ~21,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year in lithium-battery electrolyte solvent production
SHANGHAI, July 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A battery-grade ethylene carbonate (EC) purification retrofit jointly delivered by Shanghai DODGEN Chemical Technology Co., Ltd. and Shida Shenghua (Quanzhou) Co., Ltd. has been selected as a national low-carbon and energy-saving case by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).
The retrofit replaced a conventional distillation process for purifying ethylene carbonate, a core solvent in lithium-ion battery electrolytes, with DODGEN continuous high-purity melt crystallization. According to the official MIIT case record, the retrofit cut unit energy consumption from 120.9 to 33.3 kg of standard coal per tonne, a reduction of approximately 72%, across a 90,000-tonne-per-year EC production line.
The verified outcomes recognized by MIIT include:
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Approximately 72% lower unit energy consumption, from 120.9 to 33.3 kg of standard coal per tonne
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7,884 tonnes of standard coal saved per year
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Approximately 21,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions avoided per year
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A 5-month implementation period, with new melt crystallization units installed and part of the existing distillation equipment removed
“Distillation has long been the default for separating heat-sensitive specialty chemicals like ethylene carbonate, but it carries a heavy thermal and carbon penalty,” said Xi Tang, Chairman of Shanghai DODGEN Chemical Technology Co., Ltd. “By moving to continuous melt crystallization, this project shows that battery-material producers can meaningfully decarbonize purification without compromising product quality — and do it on a five-month timeline.”
DODGEN melt crystallization operates with multi-stage precision temperature control to within ±0.5°C, which the company credits for a roughly 40% efficiency gain in the purification step. The approach is designed for high-purity separation of heat-sensitive materials where conventional distillation is energy-intensive and risks thermal degradation.
For industrial deployment, the DODGEN Melt Crystallizer applies melt crystallization and falling-film crystallization principles to support stable crystal formation, efficient heat transfer, and high-purity purification in fine chemicals, battery materials and specialty chemical applications.
The retrofit supports the broader localization of high-purity electrolyte materials for China’s battery supply chain, where demand for consistent, high-purity solvents such as EC continues to grow.
