French energy group Total (Paris / France; www.total.com) and its partners IFP Energies nouvelles (IFPEN, Rueil-Malmaison / France; www.ifpen.fr) and Axens (Rueil-Malmaison / France; www.axens.net) have launched a technology for producing bio-ethylene from bio-ethanol. The companies say the technology’s high performance catalyst formulation allows it to cope with variations in feedstock quality and enables lower capital expenditure and operating costs.

The technology, named “Atol”, can be integrated into existing downstream polymerisation facilities for the production of, for example, PE, PS, PET, PVC and ABS without the need for modifications. Total and IFPEN are the co-owners of the technology and Axens is in charge of commercialisation. “This achievement can now open opportunities for industrial projects,” says François-Xavier Cormerais, Total’s VP for R&D (refining and petrochemicals).

“We are very excited about this efficient and competitive technology that will be able to meet a growing demand for plastics based on renewable raw-materials,” says Christian Dupraz, Axens senior executive VP for process licensing. “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.”

The partners plan to develop further technologies for the production of other olefinic monomers by processing bio-derived higher alcohols.