Japanese firms Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. (MCC) and Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corp. (TNSC) plan to jointly market a dehydration system for bioethanol production processes in the US. The system uses Zebrex zeolite membranes which have been developed by MCC.

Zebrex is a chabazite zeolite and is the world’s first zeolite membrane. All pores are a uniform size which increases separation capacity leading to higher production efficiency. It also has higher water resistance compared to conventional zeolite membranes.

MCC said a dehydration system using Zebrex membranes to produce bioethanol could reduce energy consumption by 5-10% and boost production by 10% compared with distillation and conventional zeolite membranes which are in use at many plants.

MCC will provide the membranes and modules and group company, Mitsubishi Chemical Engineering, will manufacture the dehydration system. TNSC will support marketing and business development activities through its wholly-owned US subsidiary, Matheson Tri-Gas.

Bioethanol has become a widespread fuel, particularly in the US and Brazil. There are 215 bioethanol plans operating in the US with more planned to be built.