TechnipFMC (Houston; www.technipfmc.com) has completed the acquisition of Epicerol technology from Solvay SA (Brussels, Belgium; www.solvay.com). The technology converts glycerol to high purity epichlorohydrin (ECH) for use in coatings, composites and adhesive applications in various industries.
Epicerol technology was developed by Solvay and has been successfully implemented and operated in plants in Europe and Asia, with a proven capacity of 100,000 metric tons per year. The technology is said to optimize integration in vinyls facilities for feedstock and recycles and reduce energy, water and chlorine consumption and minimizes chlorinated by-products.
Stan Knez, Senior Vice President, Onshore Process Technology for TechnipFMC, stated: “This technology will be of interest to downstream users who are interested in a cost effective ECH production route while taking advantage of an abundant renewable feedstock to reduce their carbon footprint. Adding this technology is another step in our strategy to expand and differentiate our onshore technology portfolio.”
TechnipFMC’s operating center in Lyon, France, a center of excellence for polyolefins, chemicals, petrochemicals and bio-sourced products, will license the Epicero technology.
TechnipFMC Process Technology is a global network of centers which look after the company’s expanding portfolio of onshore process technologies in petrochemicals, refining, hydrogen and syngas, polymers, gas monetization and renewables.