Sumitomo Chemical kicks off pilot facility for ethanol-to-propylene technology in Japan

Sumitomo Chemical has begun operating a pilot facility at its Sodegaura site in Chiba Works to demonstrate a new proprietary process that produces propylene directly from ethanol. Supported by the NEDO Green Innovation Fund, the project is expected to aid the petrochemical industry’s transition to alternative feedstocks. The company aims to commercialize and license the technology by the early 2030s.

Propylene, a key chemical in plastics and industrial materials, is currently produced in Japan mainly from fossil-based naphtha. Ethanol, however, can be derived from biomass such as sugarcane, corn, pulp, and even combustible waste, making it a sustainable alternative.

Unlike conventional ethanol-to-propylene methods, Sumitomo’s process produces propylene in a single step without intermediates like ethylene, reducing production costs and generating hydrogen as a by-product. When bioethanol is used, this also enables the co-production of bio-derived hydrogen.

The company will collect data to advance industrialization and market polypropylene made from this process, while pursuing technology licensing and catalyst sales. Longer term, Sumitomo Chemical plans to expan