Axens acquires Air Liquide’s Lurgi methanol to propylene (MTP) technology

Axens has signed an agreement to acquire Air Liquide’s Methanol to Olefins technology portfolio, including the Lurgi Methanol-to-Propylene (MTP™) process, adding a methanol-to-jet (MTJ) pathway to its SAF offering.

The process converts methanol into olefins, which can be further processed into sustainable aviation fuel and other products.

“By integrating Lurgi’s methanol to olefins technologies into Axens’ portfolio, we are strengthening Axens’ ability to offer flexible and scalable SAF solution,” says Jacques Rault, technology executive vice president, Axens. “This addition compliments our existing Jetanol suite and allows us to address a broader range of feedstocks and project configurations, from biomass based SAF to eSAF. It reinforces our ambition to provide our customers with the most complete, de-risked and competitive SAF technology portfolios on the market.”

Axens’ existing Jetanol suite covers SAF production from ethanol. The addition of the Lurgi technology extends this into a methanol-to-jet route via the Jetanol process chain, giving customers an end-to-end MTJ pathway alongside the ethanol-based options already on offer.

The move broadens feedstock flexibility for Axens’ SAF customers and rounds out what the company positions as one of the most comprehensive pathway offerings on the market — spanning ethanol- and now methanol-based routes. Axens says the expanded portfolio will help clients optimise production economics, diversify and secure feedstock supply, and de-risk long-term SAF investment strategies.