At Zeon Corporation’s Tokuyama Plant in Shunan City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, a pilot-scale facility has been completed that efficiently produces butadiene—a key raw material for synthetic rubber—from ethanol derived from plant-based and other sources. Construction began in July 2025 and was completed on July 31, 2026. Full-scale operations are scheduled to begin in January 2027, with the goal of commercialization by 2034. Traditionally, butadiene has been produced primarily from petroleum-derived naphtha; however, this new technology utilizes plant-based resources and other sources to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, stabilize raw material procurement, and cut greenhouse gas emissions. Using the butadiene produced at the facility, Zeon Corporation will develop prototype polybutadiene rubber, while Yokohama Rubber will conduct tire prototyping and road tests. By 2030, the plan is to proceed with continuous demonstration using a larger-scale pilot facility to establish the technology and data necessary for mass production. This project is supported by NEDO’s Green Innovation Fund and is being carried out in collaboration with organizations such as the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST). Technology developed in a city known for its petrochemical industry is paving the way for a new type of rubber derived from plants.
No comments:
Post a Comment