en.Wedoany.com Reported - French technology group Axens announced an agreement with Air Liquide to acquire its Lurgi methanol-to-olefins technology portfolio, including the Methanol-to-Propylene 2248 (MTP2248) technology, to expand its technology offerings in the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) sector.

This acquisition enables Axens to enhance its Jetanolae platform by adding a methanol-based sustainable aviation fuel production route. Sustainable aviation fuel is a drop-in aviation fuel compatible with existing aircraft and airport infrastructure, which can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional fossil-based aviation fuel, depending on the feedstock and production route. Currently, the HEFA (Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids) route is the most widely used, but its long-term growth is constrained by the limited availability of feedstocks such as vegetable oils, waste cooking oils, and animal fats. As a result, the industry is developing alternative production routes to diversify feedstock sources.

The technology acquired by Axens is based on methanol conversion. The MTP2248 process first converts methanol into propylene, one of the key basic raw materials in the petrochemical industry, which can then be further processed into sustainable aviation fuel via the Methanol-to-Jet (MTJ) route. This technology has been validated at commercial scale, with an extensive industrial application track record, and complements the production technologies already offered by Axens. Previously, Axens' Jetanolae platform primarily focused on producing SAF from ethanol. By adding the Methanol-to-Jet route, the company has broadened the range of solutions available to industrial customers and provided greater flexibility in feedstock selection.

When methanol is produced from renewable hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide, it can be used to produce e-SAF (electro-sustainable aviation fuel), a synthetic aviation fuel made using renewable electricity, green hydrogen, and captured carbon dioxide. The Methanol-to-Jet route enables the production of such synthetic fuels, which is expected to play an increasingly important role in the long-term decarbonization of the aviation industry. According to Jacques Rault, Executive Vice President of Technology at Axens, this acquisition enhances the company's ability to support sustainable aviation fuel projects. He noted that by integrating the Lurgi methanol-to-olefins technology into Axens' portfolio, the company strengthens its capability to deliver flexible and scalable SAF solutions. This addition complements the existing Jetanolae suite, covering a wider range of feedstocks and project configurations, from bio-based SAF to e-SAF, aiming to offer customers one of the most comprehensive, secure, and competitive SAF technology portfolios on the market.