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Japan’s Sumitomo Chem to trial propylene from ethanol

  • Mercados: Biofuels, Petrochemicals
  • 25/10/23

Japanese petrochemical producer Sumitomo Chemical plans to build a pilot plant to manufacture propylene directly from ethanol, targeting to achieve commercialisation by the first half of the 2030s.

Sumitomo Chemical expects to complete construction of the demonstration plant by the first half of 2025 at its Chiba plant in east Japan's Chiba prefecture. It did not disclose the output capacity of the pilot plant or a future commercial plant. The company is considering environmentally-friendly ethanol made from biomass like sugar cane and cone, waste or carbon dioxide, instead of conventional petroleum feedstock, to realise decarbonisation of its propylene.

Direct production from ethanol to propylene, not by other intermediates like ethylene, will allow Sumitomo Chemical to reduce production costs while generating hydrogen as by-product. Development of this technology is being supported by Japan's state-owned research institute Nedo. The company also plans to offer technology licensing to other firms during 2030-35.

Sumitomo Chemical has also built a pilot plant, also in Chiba, to manufacture ethylene from ethanol made from plastic waste as well as biomass, partnering fellow petrochemical firm Sekisui Chemical. It finished building the demonstration plant in 2022 and is aiming commercialisation by the April 2025-March 2026 fiscal year.


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