Anellotech and Suntory strengthen their alliance for development and commercialization of biobased PET bottles

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Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF.

Anellotech is a sustainable technology company focused on the production of bio-aromatics. This month, it made two important announcements regarding to its Bio-TCat process, which is aimed to produce cost-competitive renewable aromatic chemicals (benzene, toluene and xylenes, “BTX”) from non-food biomass for use in manufacturing plastics (polyester, nylon, polycarbonate, polystyrene) or for renewable transportation fuels.

On the one hand, Anellotech announced that Japan-based Suntory Holdings Limited, one of the world’s leading consumer beverage companies, has invested an additional 9 M$ in its Bio-TCat technology (see press release, 18/1/2018). This latest tranche, which is part of a new 15 M$ package based on Anellotech achieving specific milestones, brings Suntory’s total investment in the renewable chemicals company to more than 25 M$ to date. This alliance began in 2012 with the goal of enabling the development and commercialization of cost-competitive 100% biobased plastics for use in beverage bottles. Suntory currently uses 30% plant-derived materials for its Mineral Water Suntory Tennensui brands and is pursuing the development of a 100% bio-based PET bottle through this alliance.

Figure 1. TCat-8 pilot plant (extracted from the web site of Anellotech)

On the other hand, the company reported the completion of the commissioning of its 25 meter tall TCat-8 pilot plant and the starting of a critical development program to validate process economics and obtain necessary data for commercial plant design (see press release, 4/1/2018). The pilot plant was jointly designed by Anellotech and IFPEN and is located in Silsbee (Texas, USA) on the plant site of South Hampton Resources (SHR). The process will use a novel catalyst under joint development by Anellotech and Johnson Matthey. The program will generate bio-BTX samples for use in making PET for Suntory packaging and polymers such as ABS, polycarbonate and polyurethane for other strategic investors. Commercial Bio-TCat™ plant design and process licensing will be carried-out by Axens.

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