Mitsui to build pilot methanol plant

Japans Mitsui Chemicals Inc. said it would build a pilot plant within the compound of its Osaka Works in Takaishi, Osaka Prefecture, to produce methanol from carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted from factories and hydrogen obtained from water photolysis. The ¥1.5 billion (US$14.3 million) project will begin in October and the pilot plant, when completed next February, is projected to produce 100 tons per year (tpy) of methanol, the leading chemical company said. If the trial production of methanol proves successful in terms of cost and quality, Mitsui Chemicals plans to begin commercial production in March 2010. The use of CO2 as a raw material is ”the ultimate environmentally friendly new technology” and the first of its kind in the world, Mitsui Chemicals said. The chemical compound will then be used to produce petrochemical products such as olefins and aromatics. The technology will significantly reduce the emission of the global warming gas. (August 25, 2008)