Axens to licence ExxonMobil’s technology for ‘high purity’ isobutylene production

Paris – Axens SA has signed an exclusive licensing agreement to supply an ExxonMobil technology for the production of monomer feedstock for polyisobutylene and butyl rubber.

ExxonMobil's methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) decomposition technology is designed to produce high-purity isobutylene, said Axens, which serves the refining, petrochemicals and alternative fuel industries.

Under the deal, Axens has worldwide rights to market, license and provide engineering work and technical support for the design, construction and start-up of new MTBE decomposition units.

The continuous fixed bed process catalytically cracks MTBE into isobutylene and methanol, delivering isobutylene with purity of “at least 99.99 wt%”, the French group explained.

The licensing agreement will enable customers to “better address” the growing demand for petrochemical intermediates over the next decade, added Axens' 7 June statement