The MTO process, jointly developed by Honeywell’s UOP and INEOS, converts methanol from crude oil and non-crude oil sources such as coal or natural gas to ethylene and propylene. The process, based on proprietary UOP catalysts, is proven to provide high yields with minimal byproducts. MTO also offers flexibility in the quantity of propylene and ethylene produced, so producers can adjust plant designs to most effectively address market demands.

Jiutai will produce 600,000 metric tons per year of ethylene and propylene at its facility in Ordos City, Inner Mongolia Province, China. In addition to technology licensing, Honeywell’s UOP will provide basic engineering, catalysts, adsorbents, specialty equipment, technical services and training for the project, which is expected to start up in 2014.

In 2011, Honeywell’s UOP announced a similar project with China’s Wison (Nanjing) Clean Energy Company Ltd., which licensed the first commercial-scale installation of Honeywell’s UOP MTO methanol-to-olefins solution, which combines the UOP/Hydro MTO process and the Total Petrochemicals/UOP Olefin Cracking Process. The facility is expected to produce 295,000 metric tons of ethylene and propylene per year.