Succinic acid biorefineries

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Publication date: 16/10/2015.
Last update: 20/12/2016.

Introduction

The blog will open soon a new section focused on summarizing the information available about the commercial and pilot plants of the most promising Biobased Chemical Building Blocks (BCBB). The section will contain links to monographic posts updated in a regular basis. I have chosen bio-succinic acid to start the series because some companies have achieved important milestones related to its large-scale commercialization. Clearly, it is one of the DoE´s top 12 BCBB that it is fulfilling the previous generated expectations.

Description 1,2,3

Succinic acid (butanedioic acid), is a diprotic, dicarboxylic acid with chemical formula C4H6O4. It is a water-soluble, colorless crystal with an acid taste. The name derives from Latin “succinum”, meaning amber, from which the acid was originally obtained by pulverising and distilling it using a sand bath. It is produced naturally as a product of cellular metabolism. In the chemical industry, it also plays an important role, being a key intermediate component for various products and processes.

Process technologies 2

Succinic acid is produced by several methods. Common industrial routes include hydrogenation of maleic acid, oxidation of 1,4-butanediol, and carbonylation of ethylene glycol. More recently, succinic acid has been produced through the fermentation of glucose from renewable feedstock and purification of raw biobased succinic acid. The tools used for this route of manufacturing succinic acid are bacteria or yeasts in a bioreactor known as a fermenter.

Figure 1. Simplified diagram process of succinic acid production through a biobased route (extracted from BioAmber web page)

Applications 2,4,5,6

Viewed chemically, the biobased compound is absolutely identical with the product manufactured conventionally, so it has the same properties and applications. There is a multitude of potential uses for succinic acid:
  • Polybutylene Succinate (PBS) production. It is one of the newest biopolymers under development for numerous applications worldwide (mulch films, disposable cups, plastic bags,...).
  • Plasticizers production for PVC manufacture. It can also be used to meet the growing demand for plasticizers for biobased plastics.
  • Replace petrochemical-based adipic acid in the production of polyester polyols for polyurethanes (adhesives, coatings, sealants, shoe soles, flexible and rigid foams,…).
  • 1,4-Butanediol (BDO) production to obtain tetrahydrofuran (elastane fibers) and polybutylene terephthalate (electrical equipment, wheel covers, gearshift knobs,…).
  • Di-methyl Succinate (DMS) production. It is a biobased solvent, miscible with alcohols, ethers, ketones and most hydrocarbons. It is used as a coalescing agent for emulsion paints in low VOC coating applications.

Commercial plants - Operational 7,8,9,10,11,12

Figure 2. Myriant’s Lake Providence Commercial Facility for Bio-Succinic Acid (extracted from Myriant web page)

Cassano Biorefinery
Owner
Reverdia (www.reverdia.com/). It is a JV of DSM and Roquette Frères.
Location
Cassano Spinola (Italy).
Feedstocks
Starch and sugars.
Technology
Biosuccinium™ developed by Reverdia.
Hydrolysis and low pH yeast fermentation.
Capacity
10,000 tons per year.
Start-up
December 2012.

Lake Providence Biorefinery
Owner
Myriant (www.myriant.com/).
Location
Lake Providence (Lousiana, USA)
Feedstocks
Renewable feedstocks. Some of these feedstocks include grain sorghum, sugarcane bagasse and other cellulosic feedstocks.
Technology
Single-step, anaerobic fermentation process developed by Myriant. Proprietary microorganisms.
Capacity
13,600 tons per year.
Start-up
June 2013.

Montmeló Biorefinery
Owner
Succinity GmbH (www.succinity.com/). It is a JV of Corbion Purac and BASF.
Location
Montmeló (Spain)
Feedstocks
Renewable substrates (glycerol, sugars,…).
Technology
Succinity® developed by Succinity GmbH.
Proprietary fermentation process based on the bacterium Basfia succiniciproducens.
Proprietary gypsum-free downstream purification process.
Capacity
10,000 tons per year.
Start-up
March 2014.

Sarnia Biorefinery
Owner
BioAmber (www.bio-amber.com/) and Mitsui & Co (www.mitsui.com).
Location
Sarnia (Ontario, Canada)
Feedstocks
Glucose sourced from southern Ontario agricultural suppliers.
Technology
The production process is based on fermentation technology that uses a proprietary yeast.
Capacity
30,000 tons per year.
Start-up
August 2015.
Previous pilot plant
Companies: BioAmber and ARD.
Location: Pomacle (France).
Capacity: 3.000 tons/y.
Operational from January 2010 to December 2014.

Commercial plants – Under construction or planning 13,14,15

Location
Companies
Capacity
Status
Shandong province (China)
Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology (TIB)
50,000 tons/y
Under construction
China
BioAmber and CJ CheilJedang Corporation (CJCJ)
36,000 tons/y
Planned

Pilot plants 14

Location
Companies
Capacity
Status
Nanjing (China)
Sinopec Yangzi Petrochemical Company
1,000 tons/y
Start-up Q1 2013

______________________________________________________________________
REFERENCES
1 T. Werpy, G.R. Petersen: “Top Value Added Chemicals from Biomass. Volume 1: Results of Screening for Potential Candidates from Sugar and Systhesis Gas”. US DoE, August 2004.
2 www.succinity.com/biobased-succinic-acid/succinic-acid-explained-easily.
3 www.myriant.com/products/bio-succinic-acid.cfm.
4 www.myriant.com/applications/index.cfm.
5 www.reverdia.com/products/applications/.
6 www.bio-amber.com/bioamber/en/products.
7 www.reverdia.com/press-releases/reverdia-starts-operations-at-the-worlds-first-large-scale-plant-for-bio-based-succinic-acid/.
8 www.reverdia.com/technology/technology-overview/.
9 www.myriant.com/media/press-releases/myriant-achieves-successful-start-up-at-lake-providence-la-plant.cfm.
10 www.succinity.com/biobased-succinic-acid/succinic-acid-explained-easily/9-news/9-first-commercial-succinic-acid.
11 www.succinity.com/biobased-succinic-acid/technology.
12 www.bio-amber.com/bioamber/en/sarnia.
13 www.bio.org/sites/default/files/ind-2015-1510.pdf.
14 www.plasticstoday.com/articles/succinity-reaches-key-milestone-production-first-commercial-quantities-biobased-succinic-ac.
15 http://investor.bio-amber.com/2016-12-19-BioAmber-and-CJ-CheilJedang-Plan-JV-for-Succinic-Acid-Production-in-Asia.

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