Choline Chloride
1. Material Overview
Choline chloride is an organic compound with the chemical formula C5H14ClNO. It is a white, hygroscopic crystal, odorless, with a fishy odor. Its melting point is 305℃. Aqueous solution has pH of 5-6 and is unstable in alkaline solutions.
Choline chloride can be used as a nutritional additive. It is a photosynthetic promoter in plants, significantly increasing yield. It is also used as a feed additive for poultry and livestock, stimulating egg and piglet production and promoting weight gain in poultry, livestock, and fish. Choline chloride is the hydrochloride salt of choline and is a highly effective nutritional supplement and fat-reducing agent. It promotes fat metabolism and prevents fat accumulation in the liver. As a vitamin product, it is widely used in pharmaceuticals, health products, and food additives.
2. Process Introduction
1) Triethylamine Salt Formation
Hydrochloric acid and trimethylamine are added to a graphite reactor in a specific ratio via flow meters to react fully, forming hydrochloride. The pH is maintained at 6-6.5 by adjusting the metering ratio, and then the hydrochloride is transferred to a storage tank for a circulating reaction.
2) Condensation
The hydrochloride is pumped into the graphite reactor, and ethylene oxide is added via a flow meter. The reacted hydrochloride is then cooled in a cooler and reintroduced into the graphite reactor for further reaction. This cycle is repeated for 9-11 hours. Residual gas is treated in an absorption tower, and the trimethylamine residue is reduced to below 150 ppm before being transferred to the next stage, the evaporator.
3) Evaporation and Concentration
Crude choline is fed into the evaporator, and steam is heated. The evaporated water is cooled and collected in a collection tank. The crude choline, after excess water is removed in the evaporator, is converted into choline chloride aqueous solution, which is collected in a buffer tank and then transferred to the finished product metering storage tank.
4) Production of Powdered Products
Using corn cob (or peanut shell) powder as a carrier, choline chloride aqueous solution is mixed with the carrier and then conveyed into the drying system for material drying. The dried material is first cooled and then enters the finished product weighing system for weighing and quantitative packaging. The dried process air containing dust enters the dust removal system. First, it is removed by a primary dust collector, and then the process air is discharged after being removed by a secondary dust collector. The dust collected by the dust collector is returned to the drying system and mixed with the raw materials for drying.
3. Technical Advantages
1) The continuous reaction process using triethylamine salt formation and two condensation steps is simple, with mild reaction conditions, high raw material conversion rate, and few side reactions, ensuring stable product purity.
2) The production process is streamlined, eliminating the need for complex refining and purification equipment. The powder product is directly formed, saving energy-intensive concentration and deep drying steps, resulting in higher production efficiency.
3) The production process is environmentally friendly and safe, with no high-risk byproducts generated. Waste gas and solid waste treatment is simple, resulting in low overall production risk and meeting green production requirements.
4. Technical Benefit
1) Significantly reduced equipment and energy investment. The streamlined process reduces equipment procurement and civil engineering investment, while the mild process reduces steam and electricity consumption, significantly lowering overall production costs.
2) Enhanced product adaptability and competitiveness. The finished product is in powder form, facilitating storage and transportation, ensuring stable and compliant quality, and perfectly adapting to mainstream feed additive applications.
3) Production operations and environmental compliance are more worry-free; production lines are continuous and stable, maintenance is simple, environmental standards are met without high hazardous waste disposal costs, and capacity utilization and sales radius are improved simultaneously.