Lummus Technology has launched a new push into higher-value light olefins with the commercial debut of Thermacrack C5, a technology designed to boost efficiency and cut capital costs in specialty chemicals production.

 

The company says the new platform builds directly on the commercial track record of its Thermacrack family, extending capabilities beyond C4 streams into C5 feedstocks to produce isoamylene more efficiently and with greater selectivity.

 

The move strengthens Lummus’ position in backcracking and etherification technologies, leveraging operating experience from applications such as MTBE and ETBE backcracking for high-purity isobutylene, as well as TAME production used in isoamylene value chains.

 

“With Thermacrack processes, we can deliver an effective solution that directly addresses our customers' needs for efficiency, performance, reliability and product quality," said Romain Lemoine, Chief Business Officer, Lummus Technology. 

 

"This technology enhances production economics while supporting growth in high-value specialty applications such as adhesives, antioxidants and performance additives."

 

Lummus says the new C5-focused process delivers a sharper production profile: higher isoamylene purity, improved conversion and selectivity, and reduced byproduct formation that simplifies downstream processing. It also targets lower energy consumption, reduced emissions, and more stable continuous operations with less downtime.

 

The company is positioning the technology as a retrofit-friendly option, designed to integrate into existing units and support both expansion and efficiency upgrades without major overhauls.

 

With this launch, Lummus Technology is expanding its Thermacrack platform from proven C4 applications into broader feedstock flexibility—aiming to help producers extract more value from existing assets while targeting growth in high-performance specialty chemical markets.