What are the main production routes for tert-butanol in China, and how do they affect market competitiveness?

What are the main production routes for tert-butanol in China, and how do they affect market competitiveness?
Domestic tert-butanol production relies heavily on direct hydration of isobutylene from mixed C4 streams, a simple process but with conversion rates below 40%, leading to higher costs and smaller scales. Traditional indirect hydration using sulfuric acid is being phased out globally. Overseas, especially in the US, TBA is largely a co-product of propylene oxide via isobutane/propane co-oxidation, giving larger, more efficient capacities. China's fragmented, lower-efficiency plants struggle to compete internationally. However, combining countercurrent hydration with catalytic or extractive distillation offers a promising route to improve economics. Upgrading TBA to high-purity isobutylene or methyl methacrylate could add significant value for refiners.