MHI and ICM Join Forces to Revolutionize Ethanol Dehydration Efficiency
Tokyo, November 5, 2025 - In a groundbreaking collaboration, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and ICM, Inc. have forged a strategic alliance to revolutionize the ethanol dehydration process, marking a significant leap forward in bioethanol production technology.
The partnership focuses on integrating MHI's cutting-edge Mitsubishi Membrane Dehydration System (MMDS™) with ICM's advanced bioethanol process design. Together, they aim to transform ethanol production by reducing energy consumption, enhancing process reliability, and contributing to the industry's goal of lowering carbon intensity.
MHI's MMDS™ has achieved a remarkable milestone, surpassing 99.5 vol.% ethanol purity at a pilot plant in the Nagasaki Carbon Neutral Park. Early results from this pilot plant reveal a substantial reduction in energy consumption compared to traditional dehydration methods. As the collaboration progresses, further testing and validation are planned to ensure the technology's readiness for commercial deployment.
To guarantee the long-term performance and seamless integration of MMDS™, MHI and ICM are implementing two critical validation programs: a fouling test and a demonstration test. The fouling test will evaluate the membrane's durability and resistance to impurities in the ethanol stream, ensuring stable operation over time. The demonstration test will validate the full-scale performance in a production environment, confirming efficiency, reliability, and seamless integration within ICM's process design.
Ethanol dehydration, a highly energy-intensive step in bioethanol production, is set to be transformed by MMDS™. By replacing the traditional Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) method with a molecular sieve separation method, MMDS™ enables high-efficiency manufacturing while significantly reducing energy use and operational costs. Its ability to separate in the liquid phase allows for more compact system design, reducing equipment footprint and simplifying installation.
Shaun Hubler, Director of Technology Commercialization at ICM, Inc., expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, 'We're exploring new approaches to ethanol dehydration that can further improve efficiency and reliability in ethanol production. The pilot results are very promising, and we look forward to building on them as we move toward full commercial deployment.'
Fumitaka Miyashige, Business Manager of the MMDS™ project at MHI, emphasized the significance of this partnership, saying, 'This collaboration represents an important step toward realizing MHI's vision for carbon-neutral industrial solutions. Working with ICM allows us to bring this advanced separation technology to the global renewable fuels market.'
The next phase of testing is scheduled to commence in Q2 2026, marking a crucial step toward the technology's first commercial installation. Both companies view this alliance as a long-term commitment to advancing the efficiency, sustainability, and competitiveness of the global bioethanol industry.
About ICM, Inc.
ICM, established in 1995 and headquartered in Colwich, Kansas, with a regional office in Brazil, is a leader in providing innovative technologies, solutions, and services to sustain agriculture and advance renewable energy. Their ethanol and feed technologies increase the supply of world protein. With proprietary process technologies deployed in over 110 facilities globally, ICM has become a world leader in biorefining technologies, producing approximately 8.8 billion gallons of ethanol and 25 million tons of distiller grains annually.
About MHI Group
The MHI Group, a global leader in industrial solutions, encompasses energy, smart infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace, and defense. MHI combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that contribute to a carbon-neutral world, improve quality of life, and ensure a safer future. For more information, visit www.mhi.com or explore their insights on spectra.mhi.com.
