Braskem and Haldor Topsoe to validate new bio-MEG production process in a demo plant
A new important partnership is pursuing the
commercial production of monoethylene glycol (MEG) from renewable resources. MEG
is one of the two monomers of the most important polyester currently (PET) and its
global market represents a value of approximately 25 billion dollars. Bio-MEG
is attracting increasing attention as key component of bio-PET.
In this context, MOnoSAccharide IndustrIal
Cracker (MOSAIK™)
is a solution for cracking of sugars to an intermediary product which can be
further converted to MEG (or other chemicals) using Haldor Topsoe’s patented processes and
catalysts. This solution uses only two simple steps to produce MEG from biomass
and could compete on commercial terms with traditional production from fossil
feedstock. MOSAIK™ is at the heart of the recent partnership between Braskem and Haldor Topsoe whose aim
is to develop a pioneering route to produce MEG from sugar (see press
release, 09/11/2017). In this way, Braskem wants to expand its portfolio of
renewable products to offer new solutions that complement its biobased
polyethylene marketed with the I’m green™ seal.
Figure 1. Haldor Topsoe’s site in Frederikssund
(40 km from Copenhagen). The new demo plant will be located there.
The agreement calls for the construction of a
demonstration plant. The companies will combine their expertise to further
develop, test and validate the process. The following table summarizes some
data about the future demo plant and the technology.
Acknowledgements: I would like to express my
appreciation to Milica and Tore Sylvester Jeppesen (Business Development of New
Chemicals and Materials at Haldor Topsoe) for providing me with additional
information.
Location
|
Haldor
Topsoe’s site in the greater Copenhagen area (Denmark).
|
Feedstock
|
C5 and C6
sugars (monosaccharides).
The
overall yield is constant but the product split between ethylene glycol and propylene
glycol varies according to the feedstock.
Pretreatment
can be necessary depending on the quality of the feedstock (trade-off between
feedstock cost and processing cost).
|
Product
and production capacity
|
Thousands
of tons of MEG per year (based on continuous operation).
|
Technology
|
MOnoSAccharide
IndustrIal Cracker (MOSAIK™).
1st
step: Transformation of the sugars into smaller oxygenate molecules.
2nd
step: Conversion of these intermediates to ethylene glycol and propylene
glycol.
Heterogeneous
catalyst: non-noble metal based catalyst.
|
Engineering
and construction
|
Haldor
Topsoe will be the overall responsible for engineering and construction.
|
Timeline
|
Operation
slated to begin in 2019.
The
overall goal of the partnership is the start-up of a commercial plant in
2023.
|