- Accelerating the demonstration of new technology that contributes to feedstock conversion in the petrochemical industry

Sumitomo Chemical has recently constructed and begun operation of a pilot facility for a new process for directly producing propylene from ethanol (hereinafter referred to as "the Process") in the Sodegaura area of ​​its Chiba Works. This Process is being supported by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO ⁾ 's Green Innovation (GI) Fund Program as a technology that has the potential to significantly contribute to the conversion of raw materials in the petrochemical industry. Sumitomo Chemical will further accelerate the demonstration of this Process, aiming to commercialize it in the early 2030s and license the technology to other companies.

Currently in Japan, propylene is primarily made from naphtha, a fossil fuel, and is used in a wide range of applications as a basic chemical. Ethanol can be produced from biomass such as sugarcane, corn, and non-edible pulp, and in recent years, the establishment of mass production technology from combustible waste is expected. As the shift to sustainable basic chemical raw materials progresses, expectations are rising for ethanol as an alternative to fossil fuels.

The unique feature of this process, which Sumitomo Chemical is developing, is that it directly produces propylene using ethanol as a feedstock. Producing the target propylene in a single process without going through ethylene or other processes is expected to reduce costs. Another advantage is that hydrogen is produced as a by-product; when bioethanol is used as a feedstock, bio-derived hydrogen can be obtained.

Going forward, the company will continue to gather data in preparation for commercialization, and will also conduct extensive marketing activities for polypropylene made from the propylene obtained through this process, aiming for commercialization and technology licensing to other companies in the early 2030s.

Sumitomo Chemical has decided to make a major shift in its petrochemical-related business toward value creation through technologies that reduce environmental impact, and is promoting structural reforms both domestically and overseas while strengthening technology licensing, including this project, and catalyst sales. Furthermore, as a new business model for 2030 and beyond, the company aims to realize a "GX Solutions Business" that will build a resource circulation value chain that includes raw material suppliers and product brand owners, and monetize the CO2 reduction contributions made by its customers.

The company will continue to contribute to building a sustainable society through innovative technological development.

Source: Sumitomo Chemical