We are pleased to share a new ppPLUS resource detailing the DMTO (Methanol-to-Olefins) technology, developed by the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP) and their partners.
Light olefins—ethylene and propylene—are the building blocks for countless modern products: plastics, synthetic rubbers, fibers, and more. Traditionally, these are produced by steam cracking of naphtha or other oil-derived feedstocks. As the world looks for greater energy and feedstock security and sustainability, MTO technology stands out by enabling the direct production of olefins from methanol, which can be synthesized from coal, natural gas, biomass, or captured CO₂.
DMTO: The World’s Leading Technology
The DMTO process, pioneered and continuously advanced by DICP, is the world’s foremost MTO technology in terms of scale, efficiency, and impact:
🔵 Innovation Leadership: DICP’s breakthroughs—including the landmark SAPO-34 catalyst and fluidized bed reactor system—opened a practical, competitive route from methanol (coal-based or otherwise) to olefins.
🔵 Industrial Scale: By 2020, over 8 million tonnes of annual olefin capacity in China had been built on DMTO and DMTO-II plants, with more than 26 global licenses issued.
🔵 Process Evolution: Third-generation (DMTO-III) plants achieve record selectivity (85-90%) for ethylene and propylene and further reduce methanol consumption per tonne of olefins produced.
🔵 Integrated Upgrades: The process can incorporate C₄ conversion (achieving higher yields and better energy balances) and has led to “Methanol-to-Propylene” variants to answer evolving market needs.
Strategic Impact: Unlocking Coal and De-Risking Energy Supply
For China and other coal-rich countries, DMTO allows the transformation of abundant coal resources into high-value chemicals—drastically reducing reliance on imported oil and gas.
🔵 It supports national economic security, local jobs, and value-added industry around coal conversion.
🔵 The technology also provides a platform to transition towards cleaner methanol sources (biomass, CCUS), future-proofing the olefins sector.
Learn More and Connect
The deployment of DMTO is one of the defining success stories of applied catalysis and process engineering in the 21st century.
For anyone interested in the intersection of energy, chemicals, and strategic resource management, DMTO offers a robust, proven solution with international relevance.
Discover details, process fundamentals, historical milestones, and technology generations in this dedicated ppPLUS resource.
Let’s connect and discuss how methanol-to-olefins and related technologies are shaping the future of the global chemicals industry.
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