BioBTX ready to take steps towards the building of its first commercial plant
Type of post: NEWS.
BioBTX is in a position to take significant
steps in its ambition to build a commercial plant to produce platform chemicals
from waste plastics with a full circular and sustainable process. BioBTX is an
innovative technology provider for the conversion of plastic wastes and biomass
into aromatics (Benzene, Toluene and Xylenes), essential chemicals for the manufacturing
of high-value specialty products. The use of waste plastic or non-food biomass
results in significant CO2 reductions, avoids incineration or
landfill, and replaces the use of oil as raw material.
Press release: “BioBTX – investments to realize
commercialization ambitions”, 14/1/2020.
Related posts:
- “BioBTX
and Teijin Aramid to jointly develop biobased aramid fibers”, 17/11/2018.
Figure 1. BioBTX is ready to take steps towards
commercialization (extracted from the press release in Dutch, photographer: Corné
Sparidaens)
BioBTX was started by regional entrepreneurs (KNN and Syncom) with technical and scientific contributions from Groningen University (RUG). The company has its facilities for the production of sustainable platform chemicals in Groningen (the Netherlands). The company has developed the Integrated Cascading
Catalytic Pyrolysis (ICCP) process. The integration of two steps allows high
flexibility in feedstock and process conditions. The technology has been proven
on lab and pilot scale with a number of patents and further IP under development.
A production unit for liquid biomass with a 10 kg/h capacity has been
operational since September 2018 with proven performance. An additional unit
for solid biomass as well as plastics and composites was installed in 2019 to
demonstrate full circularity options with the ICCP technology.
The first commercial production facility of
BioBTX is planned to be built in 2023. In December 2019, a Series B investment
round was completed. The Series C investment round for building the plant will
commence in 2020. Three existing (Carduso Capital, Vries Beheer and Lynnovation)
and two new investors (Groeifonds of the Economic Board Groningen and NOM) have
decided to finance the next steps.