Japan will execute research and development (R&D) to produce paraxylene (PX) using carbon dioxide (CO2) as a feedstock instead of naphtha. The project is part of the country’s promoting carbon recycling to cut CO2 emission and to replace fossil-fuel based petrochemical products.
Japanese basic chemical producer HighChem, plant engineers Chiyoda and Nippon Steel Engineering, steel major Nippon Steel, trading house Mitsubishi, and Toyama University will work together to do the manufacturing.
State-owned research agency New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (Nedo) will act as investors in the project with JPY2 billion (USD18.6 million) investment.
The manufacturers will start the project possibly in September and the study is scheduled to complete by end-March 2024.
Feedstock CO2 will be sourced from thermal power generation plants, steel mills, factories. Hydrogen, the other feedstock, will be enabled from renewable power.
According to the Japan Aromatic Industry Association, the country has used approximately 20 mtpa of naphtha to produce 3.5 mtpa of PX. In the last financial year, Japan cut PX production by 7.3% year-on-year to 3.1 mt, said the ministry of economy, and industry.
The consumption of naphtha in the period edged down by 3.1% year-on-year, according to the Japan Petroleum Association.
