On December 24, the Science and Technology Awards Conference of the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation (CPCIF) was held in Beijing, where a number of leading enterprises and individuals were recognized for outstanding achievements in scientific and technological innovation. NHU’s project, “Development and Industrialization of Integrated Manufacturing Technologies for High-Quality Solid Methionine” was awarded the First Prize of the Science and Technology Progress Award in recognition of its significant technological breakthroughs and industrial value. This honor once again underscores NHU’s strong innovation capabilities and achievements in industrialization, as recognized by a national-level industry authority. Mr. Chen Zhirong, Honorary Chief Engineer of NHU, accepted the award on behalf of the company.

Methionine is an essential feed additive for poultry and livestock, with sustained and growing market demand. Prior to the implementation of this project, China’s methionine market was largely dominated by foreign companies, with sharp price fluctuations that severely constrained the stable and healthy development of the domestic downstream livestock industry.

To address this industry bottleneck, NHU adhered to a “demand-oriented, internally integrated and externally collaborative” R&D philosophy. In collaboration with leading universities such as Zhejiang University and Tianjin University, we carried out joint research with a focus on greener processes, continuous production, automated control, and premium product quality. The project successfully achieved breakthroughs in multiple “bottleneck” technologies, including the innovative realization of clean synthesis of hydantoin and solid potassium methioninate via pre-circulation of decarbonized mother liquor; the resolution of challenges in crystallization during the acidification reaction and recrystallization polymorph control; and the efficient catalytic synthesis of key intermediates. As a result, NHU established a complete set of proprietary manufacturing technologies for high-quality solid methionine with independent intellectual property rights.

Enabled by these technologies, NHU’s methionine products have achieved industry-leading performance across key indicators such as product quality, raw material consumption, energy efficiency, and emissions of waste gas, wastewater, and solid waste. NHU has thus joined the ranks of globally recognized producers of high-quality solid methionine. The successful industrialization of the project not only strengthens the security of domestic supply of high-quality solid methionine, but also provides fundamental support for the high-quality development of China’s downstream livestock industry.

For many years, NHU has remained committed to innovation in functional chemicals, leveraging its core “chemical +” and “bio +” technology platforms with long-term dedication and perseverance. Guided by the principles of open collaboration and standardized, efficient operations, we continue to optimize our industrial value chain. From breaking foreign technological monopolies to addressing critical industry challenges, NHU has consistently aligned its corporate growth with broader social value. Taking this award as a new starting point, NHU will continue to focus on national strategic priorities such as food security and green, low-carbon development, persist in R&D-driven innovation, accelerate the industrialization of scientific and technological achievements, and contribute to improved people’s lives and high-quality industry development—creating greater and more sustainable value for society.