Mini-plant for production of glucaric acid from glucose starts up successfully

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Recent news about one of the DOE’s 12 Top Biobased Molecules. Rennovia Inc. and Johnson Matthey Process Technologies announced on July 16 that they have successfully started-up a mini-plant for production of glucaric acid from glucose using jointly developed technology. In March 2014, these companies embarked on a collaboration to develop, demonstrate and commercialize catalytic process technologies for the production of bio-based glucaric acid and adipic acid. Under the collaboration, Rennovia and JM Process Technologies work together in processes based on Rennovia’s technology for the catalytic aerobic oxidation of glucose to glucaric acid and the catalytic hydrogenation of glucaric acid to adipic acid. The final goal of the collaboration is to license a package enabling commercial production of these chemical products. The successful operation of this mini-plant is a major milestone in the journey to achieve this goal.

The facility is located at the Johnson Matthey Process Technologies R&D Center in Stockton (England). No data have been reported about its capacity. The learnings from the operation of the mini-plant will provide the design basis for commercial scale manufacturing plants. Now, the companies will continue with the design and construction of the second phase of the facility focused on the production adipic acid.

Glucaric acid is an emerging platform chemical. It can serve as a starting point for the production of a wide range of products with applicability in high volume markets: detergents and cleaners, concrete formulations, de-icing and anti-corrosion. The adipic acid, chemical conventionally derived from petroleum, has major applications in nylon fibers and engineering polymers, polyester polyols for polyurethanes, and adipate esters for phthalate-free plasticizers.

Figure 1. Derivatives of glucaric acid (Extracted from: “Top Value Added Chemicals from Biomass—Volume I: Results of Screening for Potential Candidates from Sugars and Synthesis Gas”)

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