STORY 03: Research on the Frontline

Even within the rapidly growing Asian market, Singapore in particular is home to a wide range of companies and research facilities and has established itself as a major focal point for the chemical industry in Southeast Asia. Here at Mitsui Chemicals, we have been expanding our operations hand in hand with Singapore's growing chemical industry for the last 40 years. With large-scale phenol, bisphenol A and elastomer plants already up and running, we intend to use Singapore as our industrial hub in Asia as we continue to expand our operations on a global scale.

In 2004, we entered into a cooperative research agreement with the Singapore Government's Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and began conducting joint research in the field of catalysis and materials science. In October 2006, we established the Mitsui Chemicals Singapore Technical Center (now the Mitsui Chemicals Singapore R&D Center). The center is currently conducting joint research in partnership with a government research institution in Singapore and is focusing on areas such as biocatalysts, with the aim of manufacturing useful chemicals from biomass in order to help prevent global warming and find an alternative to fossil resources. At the centre, the researchers come from Mitsui Chemicals, Germany, India, Singapore and its neighboring countries.

Our joint research with Singapore is part of the Mitsui Chemicals Bio-Consortium, the aim of which is to develop technologies that facilitate the use of non-fossil resources.

Methanol, which is used as a chemical feedstock, is made from carbon dioxide (CO₂). We are currently developing technology and working on a business model that will enable us to translate this into the ultimate recycling technology. Using data obtained from the test plant at our Osaka Works, which has already been up and running for two years, we have designed the necessary process for industrialization and identified key development priorities for the future, including improving efficiency and optimizing facilities. We have also entered into specific discussions with partners from a range of industries all over the world, including companies that produce large volumes of CO₂ and companies with excess hydrogen, and are hurrying to draw up a road map that will enable practical application in line with their respective business models.

We dream of the day when this technology will help resolve the world's CO₂ problems and will continue with development until that day arrives.