Mitsui Chemicals in link-up for microwave naphtha cracking technology

Tokyo – A trio of Japanese companies have joined forces to develop innovative technology to convert naphtha crackers’ source of energy to microwave heating.

Mitsui Chemicals, and engineering company Chiyoda Corp. and microwave chemistry specialist Microwave Chemical will work jointly on the commercialisation programme. 

Developed by Microwave Chemical, M-Cracker technology is an energy-saving concept for the cracking process that differs from conventional methods, according to Mitsui Chemicals.

The system ‘directly heats’ the reaction field – a characteristic of the microwave process, explained the chemicals company in a 1 Aug statement.

The joint initiative will also aim to improve the technology further by adopting an “advanced catalytic naphtha-cracking technology” developed by Chiyoda.

The project has been adopted by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation (NEDO) under a programme to promote energy-saving technologies.

The three companies aim to commercialise the project by leveraging their respective expertise, including Mitsui Chemicals’ know-how in olefinic feedstock.