How Renewable Ethylene Glycol is Produced
Key Pathways:
- Bio-Ethanol to Ethylene to EG
- Bio-ethanol is dehydrated to bio-ethylene, which is oxidized to ethylene oxide, then hydrolyzed to ethylene glycol — a drop-in route compatible with existing plants.
- Direct Hydrogenolysis of Sugars
- Glucose or cellulose is directly hydrogenolyzed into EG using catalysts like tungsten-molybdenum, bypassing intermediate steps. Efficient but catalyst-intensive.
- Glycerol Reforming
- Crude glycerol (from biodiesel) is reformed to syngas, then catalytically converted to ethylene glycol — promising for waste valorization.
Feedstocks: Sugarcane ethanol, corn ethanol, cellulose, and biodiesel glycerol.
Case Study: India Glycols Ltd – Bio-MEG from Molasses-Based Ethanol
Highlights:
- World’s first commercial producer of ethylene oxide and MEG from bio-ethanol (molasses route).
- Supplies bio-MEG to Coca-Cola’s PlantBottle™ program for partially renewable PET bottles.
Timeline & Outcome:
- 2007: Partnership with Coca-Cola initiated under PlantBottle™ program.
- 2011: India Glycols begins full-scale bio-MEG production at Kashipur.
- 2015–2024: Continuous supply of bio-EG to PET resin manufacturers; scaled to meet ~50 KTPA demand.
Global Startups Working on Renewable EG
- Braskem (Brazil) – Commercializes bio-EG from sugarcane ethanol via ethylene route.
- MEG Chemicals (China) – Uses corn sugar hydrogenolysis to produce EG, aiming at polyester market.
- Chemetry & Technip Energies – Jointly working on low-carbon EG synthesis from syngas and CO₂.
- Avantium (Netherlands) – Developing direct sugar-to-EG via catalytic hydrogenolysis (Ray Technology™).
India’s Position
India is both producer and consumer of renewable ethylene glycol:
- India Glycols Ltd is a global leader, supplying bio-MEG from ethanol at commercial scale.
- India has abundant feedstocks: molasses from sugar industry, growing ethanol blending ecosystem.
- Research by ICT Mumbai and CSIR–IIP on catalytic glucose hydrogenolysis to EG is underway.
India also imports fossil-based MEG (~200–300 KTPA), indicating a strong opportunity for bio-MEG expansion.
Commercialization Outlook
Market & Demand
- Global ethylene glycol market: ~$30 billion (2024), projected to reach ~$42 billion by 2030.
- Major applications:
- PET bottles and fibers
- Antifreeze & coolants
- Adhesives, paints, and inks
Key Drivers
- Growing demand for bio-PET from major beverage and apparel brands.
- Established bio-ethanol infrastructure in Brazil, India, and Thailand.
- Regulatory mandates for renewable content and carbon reduction in plastics.
Challenges to Address
- Cost: Bio-EG remains ~15–25% more expensive than fossil EG, depending on ethanol prices.
- Yield: Direct glucose-to-EG hydrogenolysis suffers from moderate selectivity and catalyst deactivation.
- Scale: While drop-in ethanol-based EG is proven, next-gen catalytic routes are still emerging.
- Global Supply Chain: Demand for bio-EG exceeds current capacity in many regions.
Progress Indicators
- 2009–2011: India Glycols begins bio-MEG production for Coca-Cola’s PET bottles.
- 2015–2023: Braskem and MEG Chemicals expand EG capacity using ethanol and sugars.
- 2022–2024: Avantium pilots direct sugar-to-EG platform with early commercial interest.
- India: Steady production at India Glycols; R&D on catalytic sugar conversion ongoing at academic centers.
Renewable ethylene glycol via bio-ethanol is at TRL 9 — fully commercial, with global supply chains in place. Direct glucose hydrogenolysis and glycerol-based routes are at TRL 5–7, ranging from pilot to early commercial scale.
Conclusion
Renewable ethylene glycol is a cornerstone of the bio-PET revolution, enabling sustainable packaging and textiles with no compromise on performance. With India Glycols leading globally in ethanol-to-MEG production, and companies like Avantium and Braskem pushing catalytic and ethanol-based routes, the transition from fossil to bio-based EG is well underway. As feedstock access expands and carbon accountability grows, bio-EG will remain a key molecule in low-carbon polyester and polymer innovation.
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