DaGong Pesticide Chemistry to launch annual 2,000-ton butralin technical project

The recent environmental impact assessment of Chinese agrochemical company DaGong Pesticide Chemistry’s annual 11,500-ton fine chemical intermediate and 2,000-ton herbicidal butralin technical project was announced for public feedback on a local government website. 

According to the announcement, Zhangye DaGong Pesticide Chemistry Company Ltd., is planning to invest RMB105 million yuan on an annual 11,500-ton fine chemical intermediate and 2,000-ton butralin technical project, located in the DaGong Pesticide Chemistry’s Qilian Agrochemical Base within the Circular Economy Demonstration Park of Zhangye Economic and Technological Development Zone.

The project includes the installation of an annual 2,000-ton butralin technical production line, and an annual 6,000-ton pesticide intermediate (methyl p-tolyl sulfone) production line, of which 3,600 tons will be used in the existing production line and 2,400 tons will be sold on the market. 

Butralin is a dinitroaniline pesticide and a selective pre-emergence herbicide, which can also be used as a plant growth regulator on tobacco fields to inhibit axillary bud growth. Methyl p-tolyl sulfone is an important intermediate of the agricultural herbicide, sulcotrione, as well as an intermediate for organic synthesis. 

Founded in 2004, Zhangye DaGong Pesticide Chemistry Company Ltd., is a Sino-foreign joint venture that produces herbicides, being one of the 50 designated pesticide manufacturers of the former Chinese Ministry of Chemical Industry. In 2013, the company established its Qilian Agrochemical Base in the Circular Economy Demonstration Park, Zhangye Economic and Technological Development Zone. Currently, the Qilian Agrochemical Base has an annual 3,000-ton methyl sulcotrione production line, as well as superphosphate fertilizer and ammonium sulfate fertilizer manufacturing facilities.