Technip has announced that it has completed the acquisition of Hummingbird® ethanol to ethylene technology from BP Chemicals Ltd. Utilising 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.”

Hummingbird® is available for licensing from Technip’s centre 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, Massachusetts, USA.

Angello Amorelli, Vice-President BP Group Research, comments, “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.

Tags: BP Chemicals Ltd, Technip