BioRefineries Blog

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Eni met with the president of Tuscany, Eugenio Giani, and the mayors of Livorno, Luca Salvetti, and Collesalvetti, Adelio Antolini, to confirm that the company is investigating the opportunity to build a new biorefinery at Eni's industrial site in Livorno. Press release: " Eni considers the possibility of building a third bio-refinery in Livorno ", 17/10/22. Related posts: " Eni opens its second HVO biorefinery in Italy ", 27/09/19. The feasibility study involves building three new plants for the production of hydrogenated biofuel: a biogenic feedstock pre-treatment unit, a 500,000 tons/year Ecofining™ plant and a plant for the production of hydrogen from methane gas. The construction of the new bio-refinery – located in an industrial area which houses fuel and lubricant production facilities – would maximise synergies from the infrastructure already available and secure the site's future as an employment and production hub.

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Braskem and Sojitz have announced the launch of Sustainea, which will produce and market bioMEG (monoethylene glycol) and bioMPG (monopropylene glycol). The market launch of the brand follows the approval of the joint venture (the process began in March 2022) by antitrust authorities. Press release: " Braskem and Sojitz Corporation launch Sustainea ", 21/10/2022. Related posts:  - " Braskem and Haldor Topsoe to validate new bio-MEG production process in a demo plant ", 13/11/2017. - " Braskem and Haldor Topsoe start production of biobased MEG at their demo plant in Lyngby ", 25/11/2020. Figure 1. Braskem and Sojitz launch Sustainea to produce and market biobased glycols The business plan envisages the construction of three industrial plants, with the first unit slated for operational startup in 2025, taking advantage of market opportunities and feedstock availability. The locations where the industrial units will be built have ...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. After a long and challenging development process, GAIA BioMaterials has finally presented a thermoformable version of their biomaterial Biodolomer®, that not only can withstand microwave heat, but also has the potential for passing the home composting requirements. P ress release: " GAIA BIOMATERIALS LAUNCHES A WORLD FIRST IN PACKAGING MATERIALS ", 04/10/2022. Figure 1. The new Biodolomer® grade from GAIA BioMaterials is suitable for microwave oven usage. The solution is to be found in a combination of the proprietary recipe, as well as the new production equipment, which the company installed in its factory in Helsingborg during last year. Ever since its foundation, the company has nurtured a vision of a microwave-safe material that can also be disposed of in a home compost. Step by step, GAIA has approached the goal by adjusting the material and the production process.

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. H oneywell has announced a new ethanol-to-jet fuel (ETJ) processing technology that allows producers to convert corn-based, cellulosic, or sugar-based ethanol into sustainable aviation fuel. Press release: " Honeywell Revolutionizes Ethanol-To-Jet Fuel Technology to Meet Rising Demand for Sustainable Aviation Fuel ", 10/10/2022. Related posts: " Alcohol-To-Fuel ", 02/07/2018. Figure 1. UOP’s ethanol to jet (ETJ) process technology Demand for SAF continues to grow, yet the aviation industry is challenged by limited supplies of traditional SAF feedstocks such as vegetable oils, animal fats and waste oils. Ethanol offers producers a widely available, economically viable feedstock. Honeywell's ready now technology uses high-performance catalysts and heat management capabilities to maximize production efficiency, resulting in a cost-effective, lower carbon intensity aviation fuel. Depending on the type of ethanol feedstock used, jet fuel ...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. AFYREN has inaugurated its first large-scale plant, AFYREN NEOXY, in Carling Saint-Avold (Grand Est, Moselle, France) on the Chemesis industrial platform. I t came online within its deadline and budget. P ress release: " AFYREN inaugurates its first factory, AFYREN NEOXY, a first-of-its-kind biorefinery ", 29/09/2022. Related post: “ AFYREN starts construction of its first biorefinery to produce biobased organic acids ”, 14/12/2020.   Figure 1. AFYREN NEOXY After the start of construction in December 2020, major milestones included obtaining the operating permit, completion of civil engineering work, construction of the plant and the gradual industrial commissioning of its various units. All told, it only took 20 months for AFYREN NEOXY to open its doors, on September 29, 2022. Perfectly operational and secure, the biorefinery has reached production start-up phase in the 2022 calendar year, as announced. AFYREN plans to gradually increase volumes ...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. The first and only pilot line of bio-aromatics from lignin in Europe was officially opened by Biorizon co-initiator VITO. With the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) project LignoValue Pilot, Biorizon co-initiator VITO, Worley Belgium and PMV realised a pilot line to demonstrate technologies to depolymerise lignin in a continuous process. The pilot plant allows proof-of-concepts of the different process steps to be delivered. The LignoValue Pilot is moreover located on a specialised site, where safety, material supply and product flow are guaranteed. The proximity of VITO, Flanders' sustainability research organisation, is a major asset. Press release: " LignoValue inaugurated: Europe’s first and only pilot line of bio-aromatics from lignin ", 06/10/2022. Related posts: " VITO will build a pilot plant of bio-aromatics from lignin through the LignoValue Pilot project ", 30/07/2018. Figure 1. VITO launches pilot line to produce ...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Technip Energies and MetGen Oy have announce a collaboration for the industrialization of METNIN® technology for the valorization of lignin. Lignin is a high-volume waste stream of biorefineries that is currently burned.  METNIN® is an enzymatic process technology that enables the fractionation of lignin from lignocellulosic feedstocks to produce various renewable bio-products. Technip Energies and MetGen have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly bring a standardized solution for lignin refining to the global market. Press release: " Technip Energies and MetGen Join Forces to Industrialize METNIN® Lignin Refining Technology ", 28/09/2022,