Total Petrochemicals and IFP Energies Nouvelles (IFPEN) have launched via Atol, a joint partnership, technology to produce bio-ethylene via the dehydration of renewable ethanol, the companies announced Wednesday.
The technology will enable the bio-ethylene produced to be integrated into existing polymers such as polyethylene, polystyrene, polyethyleneteraphthalate (PET), polyvinylchloride (PVC) and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) without any adjustments, the company said.
Total said this was part of a series of technologies developed for the production of olefinic monomers via bio-derived alcohols, to be developed in parallel, based on Atol's technology platform.
Atol is a 50:50 joint partnership between Total and IFPEN launched in 2011, with Axens, an affiliate of IFPEN handling the licensing commercial opportunities.
"For Total, such collaboration with a reputable research team (IFPEN) and a licensor (Axens), presents a significant lever to bring innovative technologies, driven by a fast-moving bio-market, to commercial readiness," said Francois-Xavier Cormerais, Total's vice president of research and development (refining and petrochemicals). "This achievement can now open opportunities for industrial projects."
Christian Dupraz, Axens senior executive vice-president for process licensing, described the technology as "efficient and competitive," which will be able to meet "growing demand for plastics based on renewable raw-materials."
"This offer is in line with our strategy to become a leading company in the field of technology for bio-based production of Motor Fuels and Chemicals," he said.
