Highlights 2020 – Advanced biorefinery projects – Biobased chemicals

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Type of post: YEARLY HIGHLIGHTS. 

UPM enters the biobased chemicals business by investing in a biorefinery at Leuna (Germany). The biorefinery will produce a range of 100% wood-based biobased chemicals which will enable a switch from fossil raw materials to sustainable alternatives in various end applications. The investment opens totally new markets for UPM with large growth potential for the future. 

AVA Biochem entered into a Joint Development Agreement with the Michelin Group to establish the world’s first commercial-scale production plant of 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (5-HMF) and to bring novel product applications onto the market based on this versatile chemical. 

Södra built a plant for commercial biomethanol production at its pulp mill in Mönsterås (Sweden). Over the next few days, a first pilot delivery will go to Emmelev A/S, a customer that will be using biomethanol in its biodiesel production. 

Worley was awarded the FEED (front-end engineering design) of the furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) production plant of Avantium Renewable Polymers (Avantium subsidiary) in Delfzijl (the Netherlands). FDCA is a key building block for sustainable chemicals and polymers, such as the next-generation plastic material polyethylene furanoate (PEF). 

Chevron Products Company (a division of Chevron U.S.A. Inc.) and Novvi LLC (a joint venture of Amyris, Inc. and Cosan S.A. Industria e Comercio) announced the first production of 100% renewable base oil from Novvi’s facility in Deer Park (Houston). Novvi products bring sustainable high-performance alternatives to oil and lubricant product lines. 

The construction of the biobutanol biorefinery of Celtic Renewables in Grangemouth (Scotland) taken a significant step forward with the arrival of six purpose-built 130,000-litre fermentation vessels from the Netherlands. 

Solvay has inaugurated the second plant dedicated exclusively to the manufacturing of its sustainable solvent Augeo®, bringing its production capacity from 6,000 up to 20,000 tons a year. 

Sekab is starting a feasibility study with the aim of investigating the conditions for building a production facility in which its own technology CelluAPP will be used to create green chemicals from forest waste. 

AFYREN is making the leap to industrial-scale production as it begins construction of its first biorefinery at the Chemesis industrial platform located in France’s Grand Est region. The project’s international scope is underscored by support from the European Union, with a 20 M€ subsidy via the BBI JU for the AFTER-BIOCHEM project. 

The start-up TomaPaint is developing a commercial production plant in northern Italy to transform tomato processing waste into bio-resins to be used as coatings in food packaging. 

Complete list of posts here: BIOBASED CHEMICALS.

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