Technip Acquires BP Chemicals’ Hummingbird

Technip has completed the acquisition of Hummingbird ethanol to ethylene technology from BP Chemicals Ltd. Utilizing a proprietary catalyst operating under mild operating conditions, the technology converts ethanol to ethylene through dehydration.

 

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 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 center in Milton Keynes, U.K., 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 PTA 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: