The new bio-ethylene catalytic technology will address large-scale units and the quality of the monomers will be in line with modern derivative production processes, the partners say.

Based on Total Petrochemicals original proprietary catalyst development, this new technology could open a pathway way to a competitive production of bio-ethylene from renewable resources with lower energy consumption and lower CO₂ emissions. Ethylene is currently produced by steam cracking of naphtha.

Bio-ethylene could be integrated in various polymer applications such as polyethylene (PE), polyethyleneteraphthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS), polyvinylchloride (PVC) and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) in existing unmodified downstream polymerization installations.

The goal of this co-development is to implement a new generation of catalysts, envisioning the highest possible carbon-yield for ethylene and to use advanced techniques to minimize energy consumption for the production of polymer-grade ethylene.

Within the agreement, Total will continue its work on the optimization of the catalyst formulation at the research center in Feluy, Belgium. IFPEN will complete the process development at its Lyon site, France. Axens will finalize this development and prepare the technology for commercialization by ensuring the industrial catalyst manufacturing and by providing all process licensing related services to Total Petrochemicals and other potential customers worldwide. It is expected that the technology will be ready for industrial implementation around end of 2011.

The alliance is also covering other olefinic monomers production from bio-derived higher alcohols which will be developed in parallel within the same technology platform.