China's largest coal-based ethanol project with an annual output of 500,000 tons was completed and put into trial operation in Yulin City of northwest China's Shaanxi Province on Thursday. The project uses coal as raw material to produce ethanol and other chemical products, and it can convert 1.5 million tons of coal every year. Experts said three tons of grain can produce one ton of ethanol and the project can save 1.5 million tons of bio-ethanol raw grain every year after it is completed and put into operation. This project produces ethanol through carbonylation of dimethyl ether, which is an international leading technology with independent intellectual property rights in China.