The purpose of this report is to analyze developments in lignin based-chemical technology. Lignin derived from biomass can be converted into a number of chemical products, most notably carbon fiber and phenolic resins—with potential to improve the GHG footprint.  The purpose of this study is to assess the technical, commercial, and economic aspects of producing lignin-based products.

The coal to olefins value chain consists of multiple steps starting with coal gasification followed by methanol synthesis and then by conversion of methanol to olefins.  This report discusses the major technologies associated with each of these steps and presents production economics for coal-based olefins with comparisons to gas- and oil-based technologies.  Global and regional supply, demand, and trade for ethylene and propylene are also presented.

This report provides an overview of plastics to fuels and plastics to chemicals technologies that are used to convert so-called non-recyclable plastics into value-added products.  Many of the technology providers and operators are profiled.  Cost of production estimates for some processes were developed for the United States.  The effect of oil price on process economics is explored.

The process technologies and production economics for low density polyethylene (LDPE) and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) are presented.  The leading tubular and autoclave processes are reviewed and compared.  Cost of production estimates have been developed on a USGC, China, and Middle East basis.  Production economics for LDPE are compared with LLDPE.  Demand by end use, capacity, and supply/demand/trade data is provided on a global and tri-regional basis.