On March 27, local market supervision authorities announced that ISO 25095-1:2026 Propylene oxide for industrial use — Part 1: Determination of purity and trace impurities by gas chromatography, an international standard led and developed by Ningbo Zhenhai Refining & Chemical Lyondell Chemical Co., Ltd., has been officially released.
This standard fills the global gap in international testing specifications for propylene oxide and accelerates the internationalization of the product standard system for the chemical.
The ISO standard lays out gas chromatographic testing procedures to measure propylene oxide content and trace impurities. It applies to propylene oxide manufactured via ethylbenzene co-oxidation (PO/SM), isobutane co-oxidation (PO/TBA) and cumene co-oxidation routes.
Propylene oxide is a vital basic chemical feedstock and a critical link connecting propylene feedstock to downstream sectors including polyurethane, fine chemicals and electronic materials. The development maturity of its industrial chain directly shapes multiple end-use industries and carries strategic importance for chemical supply chain security and national industrial competitiveness.
"The newly issued international standard establishes a unified global measurement benchmark for propylene oxide trade, helping cut technical barriers and transaction costs, and empowering China’s chemical industry to gain greater clout in global value chains," an official from the district market supervision bureau stated.
In recent years, the district has advanced its standardization strategy with a full-cycle cultivation framework featuring policy guidance, demonstration models and targeted enterprise support. Authorities implement one-file-per-company demand lists, pool expert resources, deliver on-site technical guidance and build platforms for domestic and international standardization exchanges. Up to now, enterprises based in Zhenhai have led the formulation and revision of 12 international standards.
