Under the terms of the agreement, KBR will be the exclusive licensor for PSI’s ethylene oxide/ethylene glycol (K-MEG), alcohol dehydration (K-SEET) and maleic anhydride (Max-Leic) technologies, which convert ethanol into ethylene and further derivative chemicals used in a wide range of industrial and consumer products.

KBR will license the technologies and provide engineering services for new biorefineries, as well as integrate the technologies in existing refineries and petrochemical plants. "Our collaboration will benefit clients globally and allow them to set new standards for meeting corporate ESG ambitions,” said Doug Kelly, KBR president, technology.

PSI regards itself as a leader in integrated and hybrid biorefineries, production of ethanol from first- and second-generation feedstocks for gasoline additives, and conversion of renewable ethanol into chemical building blocks such as higher alcohols, bioethylene and bio EO/EG, among many others. It said that more than 80% of the world’s standalone ethanol-to-ethylene plants run on its technology.

“We are proud to work with KBR, who have the right experience and leadership to help advance and commercialize our technologies on a global scale," said PSI’s CEO, Yogendra Sarin.

In October 2019, PSI through its affiliate Sustainable Technology Corp. acquired DuPont USA’s cellulosic ethanol technology, which included more than 200 patents.

Author: Elaine Burridge, Freelance Journalist