Japan’s Sumitomo to study combining PDH, CO2 utilisation technology

SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Sumitomo Chemical is planning to study combining propane dehydrogenation (PDH) technology with another technology that efficiently synthesises methanol using hydrogen and carbon dioxide (CO2), the Japanese producer said on Thursday.

Hydrogen and carbon dioxide (CO2) are byproducts from the PDH process.

This initiative is under consideration in Sumitomo Chemical’s petrochemical complex in Singapore, and supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) as it can increase economic activity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the company said in a statement.

“Because PDH technology is already well established, Sumitomo Chemical believes that a technology to efficiently synthesize methanol using CO2 and hydrogen will be a new breakthrough that can meet product demand and improve the economics of the petrochemical complex, while also reducing CO2 emissions and mitigating their impact on the environment,” it said.

Sumitomo Chemical is undertaking a joint research project with Shimane University concerning a technology to synthesise methanol from CO2.

“Since this synthesizing process requires hydrogen…, the company is considering a possible application of these two technologies so that both hydrogen and CO2 can be effectively used,” the company added.