Petron extends its renewable-ethylene platform into bio-ethylene oxide (Bio-EO) and bio-ethylene glycol (Bio-MEG), the renewable intermediates behind PET packaging, polyester fiber, and a wide range of derivatives.
Petron’s solution & differentiators
A licensable process to oxidize renewable ethylene to Bio-EO and hydrate it to Bio-MEG, producing drop-in renewable chemicals that integrate directly with existing polyester and PET production. It carries over three decades of experience, with an innovative, patented improved quench, quench bleed stripper, and EO stripper bypass, and works with every type of EO catalyst available on the market (high selectivity, high performance, high tolerance, and others) from any vendor worldwide. This patented system brings several advantages over competitors:
| Parameter | Unit | Petron | Competitors | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Improved quench system | Yes | Not available | Removes formaldehyde and other acidic materials. | |
| Cycle water treatment unit | Not required | Required | Lower investment, lower effluent generation, lower chemical consumption. | |
| EO stripper bypass | Petron’s patent | Not available | Reduced steam consumption in the EO stripper, reduced investment in the stripping section, reduced cooling water consumption. | |
| Catalyst selectivity | % | +91 (SOL) & 87 (EOL) | Less than 88 (SOL) | Improves plant efficiency: lower ethylene and oxygen consumption. |
| Catalyst life | Years | 4 | 2 to 3 max. | Fewer shutdowns for catalyst change, lower production loss and maintenance cost during catalyst changes. |
| Catalyst WR | kg/m³/h | +250 | Lower | Lower catalyst requirement per change, lower reactor size and investment. |
| MEG quality (UV @ 350, 275 & 220 nm) | % | 100, 95 & 85 | Lower than Petron | Better product quality with no post-treatment of MEG required; lower aldehyde and acidity contents. |
| CATACARB process for CO₂ removal | Technology available in association | Not available to competitors | Lower investment due to use of carbon steel, smaller equipment sizes, better equipment life due to the non-corrosive nature of the process used. |
Applicable feedstocks & products
Renewable ethylene (from Petron’s EtE technology) into Bio-EO and Bio-MEG for the renewable PET value chain and downstream derivatives.
Commercial maturity
Available for licensing as a standalone EO/EG plant or as part of an integrated complex, starting from 1.0G, 1.5G and/or 2.0G ethanol up to any of the integrated downstream chains such as renewable PET, renewable ethanolamines, renewable ethoxylates, and more.
Full technical brief in preparation with the Petron technology team.
