Page 160 - CW E-Magazine (19-8-2025)

News from Abroad

BIOGAS PURIFICATION SYSTEM
Asahi Kasei completes trial production of high yield,

high purity biomethane at demo unit

Japan’s Asahi Kasei said it has success- actual operating conditions, Asahi Kasei
fully completed a demonstration trial of a conducted a demonstration trial using a
biogas purification system using zeolites portion of biogas generated from sewage
in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. sludge at the Kojima Sewage Treatment
Begun in February 2025, the trial achieved Plant in Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefec-
biomethane production with yield of up to ture, since February 2025.
99.5% or more and purity of 97% or more.
In the purification of biomethane, there
“With such exceptional performance tends to be a trade-off between high purity
in both yield and purity, the system holds and high yield; achieving both together
promise for the cost-effective production has been a significant technical challenge.
and utilisation of biogas and biomethane foundation, the company has developed The first course of this demonstration was
across industries,” the company said. a system that separates CO and methane performed with continuous operation for
2
from biogas using the optimum combina- a period of one month. The biomethane
Biomethane derived from biogas is tion of a special pressure vacuum swing obtained was confirmed to be over 97%
attracting attention as a sustainable energy adsorption (PVSA) process technology pure, suitable for use as fuel by feeding
source. As of November 2024, 159 and a novel zeolite as an adsorbent. This into a natural gas pipeline injection or as
countries have signed the ‘Global Methane unique configuration removes CO from CNG. A high yield of over 99.5% was also
2
Pledge’, affirming their commitment to biogas to obtain biomethane with high confirmed, indicating successful achieve-
reducing methane emissions. Because purity and high yield. A zeolite is a crystal- ment of both high purity and high yield
biomethane can utilise existing natural line aluminosilicate having regular pores performance.
gas infrastructure, it provides a unique and cavities controlled on the order of
opportunity to establish a circular economy angstroms (ten-millionths of a millimeter) “We are beginning to have concrete
that reduces waste while obtaining usable with a specific surface area of several discussions with potential licensees
energy. hundred square meters per gram. around the world. After commercial-scale
pilot studies, we plan market launch in
Asahi Kasei has a long track record in Commercialisation planned for 2027 2027,” informed Mr. Kazuya Noda, Senior
catalyst development and gas separation To verify the performance and ope- General Manager of Asahi Kasei’s
technologies. Based on this technological rational stability of this system under Material Business R&D.

CIRCULAR OPERATIONS
Indorama reaches 150-billion PET bottles recycling milestone

Thailand-based chemical company transforming used PET into billion bottles in
Indorama Ventures Public Company Ltd., recycled PET (rPET) resins 2023, just three and
said it has recycled more than 150-billion and other circular materials. a half years later.
post-consumer PET bottles since 2011. This These are used across various Now the company
significant milestone underscores the com- industries globally, support- has reached the
pany’s long-term commitment to circular ing Indorama Ventures and its 150-billion mark
economy practices and its sustained invest- customers in achieving their which reflects both
ment in global recycling infrastructure. sustainability goals. growing global
demand for recycled content and the
With more than 20 recycling facilities The company reached its first major company’s strategic investments in infra-
across 11 countries, Indorama collective- milestone of 50 billion bottles recycled in structure, partnerships, and innovation to
ly recycles 789 bottles every second – March 2020 and doubled that figure to 100 scale up recycling at speed.

160 Chemical Weekly August 19, 2025

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