Technip (Paris, France; www.technip.com) announced today that it has completed the acquisition of Hummingbird ethanol-to-ethylene technology from BP Chemicals Ltd. (London, U.K.; www.bp.com). Utilizing a proprietary catalyst operating under mild operating conditions, the technology converts ethanol to ethylene through dehydration. The technology is lower cost and simpler compared to first generation technologies.
The process uses a wide range of ethanol feedstocks and can easily be integrated into existing ethylene facilities. The advanced catalyst simplifies the processing scheme and significantly increases selectivity.
Stan Knez, President, Technip Stone & Webster Process Technology, stated: “This acquisition progresses Technip’s onshore strategy to add process technologies that differentiate us and bring value to our customers. Hummingbird allows us to offer customers an alternative method to produce sustainable products from bio-based materials while expanding our technology positions in ethylene-derived chemicals and plastics such as PE, EB/SM and PET(1).”
Hummingbird is available for licensing from Technip’s center in Milton Keynes, United Kingdom, which has a long history of ethylene experience. Ongoing catalyst development will be provided by the Technip Research Center in Weymouth, Mass.
Angello Amorelli, Vice-President BP Group Research, commented: “BP has a strong track record of developing differentiated technologies. We are pleased to see our Hummingbird® process taken to the market by Technip, a world-class technology licensing and engineering company.”
The Hummingbird acquisition builds on Technip’s long-standing PTA(2) alliance with BP, one of the largest PTA producers in the world.
Since acquiring Stone & Webster process technologies in 2012 and Zimmer polymer technologies in 2014, Technip has continued to increase the breadth of its Onshore process technology portfolio. Today it covers technologies in five main areas, offered by Technip or in alliance or partnership with other companies:
- Petrochemicals such as Olefins (Ethylene, Propylene) and Ethyl Benzene/ Styrene Monomer (EB/SM) and phenolics;
- Refining, including Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC)/ Resid Fluid Catalytic Cracking (RFCC) and Deep Catalytic Cracking (DCC);
- Hydrogen and Syngas;
- Polymers such as Polyester, Nylon, Polystyrene, ABS and Polyolefins; and
- Gas Monetization such as Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) and Gas to Liquids (GTL).
(1) Polyethylene (PE), Ethyl Benzene Styrene Monomer (EB/SM) and Polyethylenetherephthalate (PET) are used to manufacture a variety of plastic products. EBSM is offered by Badger Licensing LLC, a joint venture of affiliates of Technip and ExxonMobil Corporation, and PET is offered through Technip’s Zimmer polymer business, acquired in 2014.
(2) Purified Terephthalic Acid (PTA), in the form of white, crystalline powder, is a raw material for the production of polyester fibers and plastic materials.