Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Achieves Target Performance at Pilot Plant for Bioethanol Membrane Dehydration Systems

• Achieved target ethanol purity of over 99.5vol% at a pilot plant in the Nagasaki District Research & Innovation Center
  
• Reduced energy consumption significantly and achieved compact equipment by optimizing the manufacturing of bioethanol at high efficiency
  

Tokyo, September 12, 2025 - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has achieved the target performance of over 99.5vol% ethanol purity at a pilot plant for membrane dehydration systems (MMDS®: Mitsubishi Membrane Dehydration System) installed at MHI's Nagasaki Carbon Neutral Park within the Nagasaki District Research & Innovation Center, which meets domestic fuel standards.

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Pilot plant for membrane dehydration systems

Bioethanol is gaining attention as a clean fuel alternative to gasoline and as a raw material for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). However, in order to be used as fuel, the removal of moisture contained in bioethanol during the final stage of manufacturing (dehydration) is essential, and the dehydration process consumes a significant amount of energy. MMDS® aims to optimize the process by replacing the conventional method with a molecular sieve separation method, thereby achieving high-efficiency manufacturing while significantly reducing energy consumption by over 30%, leading to a substantial reduction in operational costs and stable production. Additionally, since MMDS® enables separation in the liquid phase, it allows for the compact design of the equipment.

Moving forward, based on the results of various element tests conducted at the pilot plant, MHI plans to accelerate development toward the construction of a demonstration plant for an early launch.

MHI is committed to advancing the development and commercialization of high-efficiency manufacturing processes for hydrogen-free bioethanol, a clean fuel derived from plants. Through these efforts, MHI will strive for early establishment and execution of decarbonization technologies, as a way of contributing to the realization of a sustainable, carbon neutral world.

This method utilizes the difference in molecular size to separate substances using membranes.

INCHEM Tokyo 2025 Exhibition Information

Dates: September 17 (Wed) - 19 (Fri), 2025Location: Tokyo Big Sight (Koto City, Tokyo), East Exhibition HallMHI Booth Number: 5-SP03For more details on the exhibition, please visit: https://inchem.jma.or.jp/en/

About MHI Group

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world’s leading industrial groups, spanning energy, smart infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life and ensure a safer world. For more information, please visit www.mhi.com or follow our insights and stories on spectra.mhi.com.