04-09-2017

Air Liquide and Mitsubishi Chemical announce partnership

Air Liquide Engineering & Construction has signed a cooperation agreement with Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation to license MCC’s​ Butene-to-crude-Butadiene technology used in the petrochemical ​industry.

Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC) has developed this state-of-the art oxidative dehydrogenation technology of n-butene to produce crude Butadiene and verified the viability in a demonstration plant at MCC Mizushima, Japan.

Butadiene is an important industrial chemical used in many day-to-day products, mainly as synthetic rubber for the automotive industry. Butadiene can also be used as a raw material for the production of products such as polymers, plastics and paper chemicals.

Air Liquide Engineering & Construction can now offer its customers a unique integrated solution for both, butene dehydrogenation and butadiene extraction. This allows to extend the production of Butadiene from the conventional extraction from a Naphtha Cracker product to on-purpose production based on a wider range of feedstocks.

Air Liquide Engineering and Construction is a worldwide recognised butadiene licensor with 37 references and it’s capabilities in custom-made design and engineering of butadiene units have been recognized as a benchmark in the industry, providing production reliability, low energy consumption and product quality.

Domenico D’Elia, ​Vice President and Chairman of Air Liquide Engineering & Construction, said, "Partnership with Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation is yet another important step to enhance our integrated offer in butadiene technology licensing. The combination of high-quality solutions in  addition to our existing technology portfolio ​will create sustainable alternative production routes to our customers and create value​ ​over​ ​the​ ​long-term".

Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation takes its position as one of the world’s top chemical companies and has a long history not only as a high quality petrochemical products manufacturer, but also as a licensor for reliable petrochemical technologies and a broad range of high performing catalysts.