Speciality chemicals company Clariant has agreed to sell its 50% stake in the joint venture which owns “green” ethylene producer Scientific Design Company (Scientific Design) to SABIC, Clariant announced.
The deal between Clariant and SABIC – Clariant’s partner in the Scientific Design joint venture – is expected to be finalised in the middle of this year, subject to regulatory approval, according to the 2 February statement.
Scientific Design is active in the development, licensing and catalyst supply of processes for the production of ethylene oxide (EO), ethylene glycol (EO/EG), bio-ethylene, bio-EO, bio-EG, EO derivatives, polyols and maleic anhydride.
On its website, the company said its ethylenol to EO/EG process was a “green” alternative to using petroleum-based ethylene.
The resulting ethylene was then used to make other major downstream derivatives such as polyethylene, ethylene dichloride, styrene, ethylbenzene, the company said.
Scientific Design offers both the process technology and SynDol catalyst for the dehydration of ethanol to ethylene.
Headquartered in New Jersey, the company also produces catalysts and equipment for use in its own and other industrial processes.
Clariant acquired its 50% share of Scientific Design in 2011.
