A unit of Occidental Petroleum Corp. (Oxy) is partnering in a pilot project that could produce 1 metric tons/month of ethylene using human-made carbon dioxide (CO2) instead of hydrocarbon feedstocks like natural gas and oil.

Occidental

Houston-based Cemvita Factory, a bio-engineering start-up, is working with Oxy Low Carbon Ventures (OLCV) on the bio-ethylene pilot facility, which could be up and running in 2022. The test facility would rely on a process developed by the partners in laboratory tests. Initial testing indicated the facility could be competitive with hydrocarbon-sourced ethylene processes. 

“This technology could provide an opportunity to offer a new, nonhydrocarbon-sourced ethylene product to the market, reducing carbon emissions,” said OLCV’s Robert Zeller, vice...