GE Energy has signed a contract to license its gasification technology to Eastman Chemical Company for a new hydrogen, methanol and ammonia production facility in Beaumont, Texas.
Eastman will use the GE technology to turn petroleum coke (petcoke) – a typical byproduct of the refining process – into syngas, which then will be used to produce the hydrogen, methanol and ammonia.
Front end engineering and design for the facility will begin immediately, with construction expected to be underway by early 2009. Eastman expects the plant to be online in 2011.
This is the 30th licensing agreement in US to use GE's gasification technology for similar chemical operations.
Gasification projects such as the new Eastman plant offer potential environmental benefits, since carbon capture technology can be employed to eliminate emissions that normally are associated with the burning of refinery byproducts.
GE's gasification technology is widely used around the world, particularly in China, where the company has 30 licensing agreement in place.
MOF captures hot CO2 from industrial exhaust streams
How much so-called "hot" exhaust could be usefully captured for other heating purposes (domestic/commercial) or for growing crops?