Posted on 07/19/2007 10:31:59 AM PDT by Red Badger
The Dow Chemical Company, the world’s largest producer of polyethylene, and Crystalsev, one of Brazil’s largest ethanol players, plan to form a joint venture to manufacture polyethylene from sugar cane ethanol. With production expected to start in 2011, the plant will have an annual capacity of 350,000 metric tons.
The new facility will use ethanol with Dow’s proprietary technology to manufacture DOWLEXT polyethylene resins—the raw material required to make polyethylene, the world’s most widely-used plastic.
At a molecular level, the joint venture’s product will be identical to the DOWLEXT polyethylene resins manufactured at other Dow facilities. The new material is a drop-in replacement made with a renewable resource—not a different polymer altogether. Also, like the traditional PE product, the sugar cane-based polyethylene would be fully recyclable using existing infrastructure.
Ethylene is traditionally produced using either naphtha or natural gas liquids, both of which are petroleum products. The partners estimate that the new process will produce significantly less CO2 compared to the traditional polyethylene manufacturing process.
The companies have already begun conducting a feasibility study to assess various aspects of the project, including engineering design, location, infrastructure needs, supply chain logistics, energy and economics. The study, which is expected to take one year, will also look at the possibility of receiving approval for the project and the process as a Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). The CDM was developed by the United Nations to help companies manage their carbon credits from emerging market projects.
The areas being considered as potential sites for the new facility are currently being used for low-density cattle grazing and are not near any rain forests. Both companies have underscored their commitment to ensuring that the plant is located in a sustainable environment.
Another way to waste our food ping!....
SWEET RIDE!!!
There is some fantastic progress being made as a result of high petroleum costs. Yes, making ethanol from corn is a waste but there are a number of other crops that can be grown and reaped cheaply in lousy soil, making them a good economic alternative that does not empower the Saudis or Chavez.
I think this has great potential. Sugar cane and corn are just stepping stones.
Gee, great minds do think alike.
I sure wish they’d use some of that cane sugar to replace the corn syrup in Coke. I miss the old flavor, which I understand is only available around passover as their kosher version.
Yup!
It's just a pilot plant, but if this is a $$$$ maker, you better believe the American Ag Industry will be all over it.....
Corn syrup is not Kosher?.......
2. What about beet sugar. I can't think of the last time I ate a beet, and I do know that we produce a significant amount here.
3. Ethanol from corn is a waste of time and energy. Its also pushing up the price of a staple food product in much of the developing world.
ping!....
I don’t think this has to do with food.
There is a world excess capacity of sugar and Brazil can produce lots more. The ethanol is actually rum.
We could be importing Brazil’s excess sugar at a lower price were it not for a fantastic sugar lobby that uses tax money subsidies and restricts imports.
The chemical conversion of ethanol to polyethelene is a good use of the excess sugar. Since most polyethelene is derived from petroleum feed stocks, since these feed stocks are becoming increasingly more expensive, it is a good thing if the end product can compete with similar PE derived from petroleum..
This is nearly the same as making sugar based ethanol to be blended with gasoiine.Brazil is probably the world leader in gasahol fuels.
Google “kosher coke” and see for yourself.
Coke made in Mexico is still made with sugar (for now). You can find it in the old-style glass bottles at the smaller grocery stores that cater to our [ahem] southern neighbors.
funny environmentalists are not concerned with the billions of corn plants being sacrificed, but when it comes to a redwood tree... oh boy!
I won't be long before the American corn farmers start joining the chorus........
You Sir have one of the best tag lines I’ve ever read. Having visited Juarez around 1980 I gotta believe that has been the case for quite some time.
Yes, making ethanol from corn is a waste but there are a number of other crops that can be grown and reaped cheaply in lousy soil, making them a good economic alternative that does not empower the Saudis or Chavez.
I think this has great potential. Sugar cane and corn are just stepping stones.
You're exactly right.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.