Sumitomo Chemical Launches Pilot Plant for Ethanol-to-Propylene Production

Sumitomo Chemical has constructed and begun operating a pilot facility at its Sodegaura site within the Chiba Works to test a proprietary process that produces propylene directly from ethanol.

This breakthrough technology, supported by Japan’s NEDO Green Innovation Fund, is expected to play a pivotal role in the petrochemical sector’s shift toward alternative feedstocks. The company aims to accelerate demonstration projects, with the goal of commercializing the process and licensing it to other firms in the early 2030s.

Propylene is an essential chemical used worldwide and in Japan is predominantly derived from naphtha, a fossil-based feedstock. By contrast, ethanol can be produced from renewable biomass such as sugarcane and corn, as well as non-food resources like pulp. In recent years, advances in large-scale ethanol production from combustible waste have moved close to industrial application, reinforcing ethanol’s potential as a sustainable alternative to fossil-derived basic chemicals.

Sumitomo Chemical’s newly developed method produces propylene directly from ethanol in a single step—without passing through intermediates such as ethylene, which other ethanol-based processes require. This unique advantage is expected to lower production costs. Moreover, the process also generates hydrogen as a byproduct. When bioethanol is used, the hydrogen produced is bio-based, offering an additional benefit.

Going forward, the company will focus on gathering the technical and operational data necessary for industrial-scale adoption, while actively promoting polypropylene made from this new propylene. Its long-term target is to achieve commercialization and widespread licensing of the technology in the early 2030s.