§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy what he estimates to be the potential in the United Kingdom for the use of methyl alcohol as a feedstock for the production of ethylene and propylene via zeolite catalysts.
§ Mr. David MitchellI have been asked to reply.
Such information as I have suggests that while special zeolites can be used to convert methyl alcohol to a spectrum of hydrocarbons including the lower olefins, even at 100 per cent. yield the conversion of methyl alcohol to ethylene and propylene would be uneconomic for the foreseeable future compared with the established technology based on steam cracking of hydrocarbon fractions. If my hon. Friend has other information, I should be glad to consider it.