Sumitomo Chemical launches ethanol-to-propylene pilot plant

In Japan, Sumitomo Chemical has established a pilot facility in the Sodegaura area of the Chiba Plant and started operation of a new process that directly manufactures propylene from ethanol. This process is supported by NEDO’s Green Innovation (GI) Fund project as a technology that can greatly contribute to the conversion of raw materials into the petrochemical industry, and Chubu Electric Power aims to further accelerate the demonstration of this process and commercialize it in the early 30s and license technology to other companies.