METEX and financial partner to create JV for the construction and operation of its PDO/BA plant

By -


Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF.

We already knew that METabolic EXplorer (METEX) intended to build a facility for producing butyric acid (BA) and 1,3-propanediol (PDO). Preliminary data of the plant and the main characteristics of BA and PDO markets were summarized in a previous post (METEX plans to build a PDO/BA production facility, 22/5/2017). At the end of last month, the French company reported some advances of this interesting project (see press release, 29/1/2018). Let us know the most important details.

Location

METEX has confirmed its selection of the Carling Saint-Avold petrochemical platform in Moselle (Greater East Region). This decision is based on preliminary studies carried out in the framework of assistance agreements signed in June 2017 with Total Développement Régional and in September 2017 with the Communauté d’Agglomération de Saint-Avold Synergie. It will be necessary to install two buildings and utilities at the platform for the construction of this plant.

Figure 1. General view of the Carling Saint-Avold petrochemical platform which could host the new PDO/BA plant

Joint venture
METEX has signed a letter of intent with a French financial partner (the name was not disclosed) to create a joint venture for the construction and operation of the plant. METEX will grant an exclusive license to the joint venture, along with sub-licensing rights. The licensing agreement also provides for an additional valuation of the technology when the project moves into the second stage.

Funding
The total financing required for the project, excluding buildings, utilities and studies, is estimated at a maximum of 37 M€ (CAPEX: 29 M€; WCR, contingencies and diverse start-up expenses: 8 M€). The financial partner would provide a maximum of 19.6 M€ in equity capital. For its part, METEX undertakes to provide a maximum of 17.3 M€ in cash. The final amount of the investment will depend notably on the contributions from all public and private stakeholders to the financing of the buildings, utilities and related studies.

Timeline
Financing documents are under review at the present time and METEX is expecting local, regional, national and European stakeholders to confirm their commitments by the end of June 2018. If the funding for the first stage (estimated at approximately 15 M€) is obtained by the planned date, construction should get underway at the end of the third quarter of 2018.

Popular Posts

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

By -
Image
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 ...
Read more

Biorefinery models - Lignocellulosic biorefinery

By -
Image
Publication date: 25/04/2016 Last update: 25/04/2016 ABOUT THE SERIES OF POSTS “BIOREFINERY MODELS” This post belongs to a series called “ Biorefinery Models ”. This series is devoted to briefly describe the models or concepts of advanced biorefineries which have emerged in the last few years and that are rising currently. These models are simplified representations which enable us to understand in a simple way the structure and characteristics of a general biorefinery type. Some of these models refer to the type of feedstock while other focus on the technologies involved. A biorefinery may resemble these models or be the result of variations and combinations of them. It should be noted that although these paradigms are very useful and instructive, they show limitations in describing and classifying complex systems with high level of integration. In order to define and describe a specific complex case, the blog recommends use the classification proposed by IEA Bioenerg...
Read more

Hidrotratamiento (HVO) – Conceptos, materias primas y especificaciones

By -
Image
English version Sección: BIOCOMBUSTIBLES AVANZADOS Serie: HVO - Hidrotratamiento (HVO) – Conceptos, materias primas y especificaciones - Hidrotratamiento(HVO) – Ventajas sobre el biodiesel convencional y propiedades - Biorrefinerías de Aceites Vegetales Hidrotatados (HVO) – El auge del diésel renovable - Entradas: HVO                El acrónimo HVO significa en inglés “ Hydrotreated Vegetable Oils ” (“Aceites Vegetales Hidrotratados”) o ” Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils ” (“Aceites Vegetales Hidrogenados”). Clave del proceso: Tratamiento con hidrógeno. En el proceso de producción de HVO, el hidrógeno se usa para eliminar el oxígeno de los triglicéridos produciendo una mezcla de parafinas lineales, CO 2 y agua. Posteriormente, el producto de la primera etapa se isomeriza, siempre en presencia de hidrógeno, para ramificar las cadenas lineales con el propósito de mejorar las propieda...
Read more

Biofuels from algae

By -
Image
In my opinion, the production of biofuels and biobased chemicals from algae is one of the most fascinating topics in the sector of the biorefineries and it will be one of the niches of opportunity with highest potential in the medium and the long terms. This post pretend to be a very basic approach to the topic Algae-to-Biofuels through three general key points. Algae 1,2,3,4,5 Algae include a wide variety of photosynthetic organisms capable of transforming light, water and specific nutrients into products that can be used with commercial and industrial purposes. We can say that algae are sunlight-driven factories with potential to convert CO 2 into biofuels, high-value biochemical, food and feed. There are four algae cultivation technologies currently in use for commercial algae cultivation and proposed for algal biofuel production: extensive or open ponds, intensive or raceway ponds, closed photobioreactors in many designs and closed fermenter systems. Algal biof...
Read more

Biobased acrylic acid

By -
Image
Versión en Español Type of post: Fact sheet. Series: Biobased chemicals – Organic acids. Publication date: 05/05/2021. Last update: 05/05/2021. Description - Organic acid with 3 carbon atoms. - It is a clear, colourless, corrosive liquid with a characteristic acrid or tart smell. - Other names: prop-2-enoic acid. Applications - Formation of homopolymers or copolymers which are used in the manufacture of various adhesives, coatings, diapers, detergents, paints, plastics and textiles. The main use of crude acrylic acid is the generation of acrylate esters, followed by the production of polyacrylic acid, used mostly in superabsorbent polymers. - Chemical intermediate in multiple industrial processes. Conventional petrochemical route - Cracking of fossil naphtha to produce propylene / Oxidation of propylene. Main biobased routes - [3-HPA via] Fermentation of sugars to produce 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HPA) / Dehydration of 3-HPA. - [Biobased naphtha via] Cracking of biobased naphth...
Read more