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Cargill and HELM to build commercial-scale biobased BDO plant in USA using Genomatica’s technology

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Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS. Cargill and HELM have established a joint venture (Qore) focused on producing 1,4-butanediol (BDO) under the brand QIRA . As part of the agreement, both companies are investing a combined 300 M$ to build the first biobased BDO plant in USA. Qore has licensed Genomatica’s BDO process technology. Press releases: - “ Cargill and HELM partner to build $300M commercial-scale, renewable BDO facility, first in the US, to meet growing customer demand ”, 08/06/2021. - “ Second commercial plant set to be powered by Genomatica technology for more sustainable everyday products ”, 10/06/2021. Related posts: - “ Novamont opens a commercial-scale BDO biorefinery in Italy with technology of Genomatica ”, 30/09/2016. - “ Biobased 1,4-butanediol (BDO) ”, 01/06/2021. Figure 1. Made biologically through the fermentation of plant-based sugars, QIRA can save up to 93% of greenhouse gas emissions when replacing today’s widely used chemical intermediates made fr...
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Biobased 1,4-butanediol (BDO)

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Versión en Español Type of post: Fact sheet. Series: Biobased chemicals – Alcohols. Publication date: 01/06/2021. Last update: 11/06/2021. Description - Diol with 4 carbon atoms. - It is a colourless, viscous liquid. Applications - In the presence of phosphoric acid and high temperature, it dehydrates to the tetrahydrofuran (THF), which is used in various industrial applications such as a solvent in pharmaceuticals. Half of the BDO consumption is used for production of THF. - The second largest market for BDO is the synthesis of γ-butyrolactone (GBL). GBL is used in industrial cleaning products and in the production of Methylpyrrolidone (NMP) and 2-pyrrolidone. - Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) is produced by polymerising terephthalic acid and BDO. PBT is an engineering plastic is used in a wide range of applications, mainly in electrical and automotive component. Conventional petrochemical routes (1) - Reppe process (acetylene): 42% of global capacity. - Davy Process (maleic anhyd...
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Vertoro wins grant to build a lignin biorefinery in the Port of Rotterdam

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Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Vertoro has announced that its “Goldilocks by sea” proposal won a REACT-EU grant (2 M€) to co-finance all engineering, permitting and ground works activities for a 250 ktons/year biorefinery in the Port of Rotterdam. LinkedIn post , 24/06/2021. Related posts: - “ Sainc Energy plans to build an advanced biorefinery in Andalusia ”, 13/09/2018. - “ Sekab and Vertoro to build a demo biorefinery to produce a new platform for sustainable fuels, chemicals and materials ”, 11/03/2020. Figure 1. Goldilocks oil (taken from Vertoro website) This biorefinery will convert industrial wood residues like sawdust into some 50,000 tons of cellulosic ethanol, alongside roughly 125,000 tons of lignin-based Goldilocks crude oil. The crude has multiple applications including its use as a gasifier- and cracker feedstock as well as a marine fuel. GEM (Goldilocks Enriched Methanol) offers a lower average price per calorie and improves important combustio...
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New HVO plant enters into operation in China

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Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS. According to S&P Global Platts, last month, State-owned energy company Beijing Sanju Environmental Protection & New Materials launched a 400 ktons/year capacity HVO plant in Rizhao (Shandong, China) province. The biorefinery utilizes used cooking oil (UCO) and palm oil mill effluent (POME) as feedstocks. News (S&P Global Platts): “ China reinforces position in HVO market with launch of new 400,000 mt/year plant ”, 24/03/2021. Hydrotreating (HVO) – Concepts, feedstocks and specifications . HVO posts. Figure 1. Beijing Sanju, current and planned HVO plants (source: S&P Global Platts Analytics) The new HVO plant (Shandong Sanju Bioenergy) was the result of a cooperation agreement (07/04/2020) between Beijing Sanju (primary owner, investor and tech provider), Hainan Qilu Development (investor and subsidiary of Qilu Transportation Development Group) and the Juxian County Government (minority owner, fixed assets). Shandong Sanju Bio...
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Profile: MiniDest – The small-sized corn ethanol plants of Porta

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A new addition to the list of references of small-scale biorefineries . Today I introduce a concept that is revitalizing the rural zones in Argentina: the MiniDest. Porta carries the distillery to the farm to integrate the production in the origin minimizing logistic and energy costs. The company Porta Hnos. SA , a company settled in Córdoba (Argentina), has a well-known industrial trajectory of more than 130 years in the production of liquor, alcohol and vinegar. They have invested years devoted to the development of engineering and technology for the processes of distillation and fermentation. In this sense, its staff have achieved important goals for the own company and third parties, in addition to the sign of collaboration agreements with major biotechnology companies in Argentina and all over world. The MiniDest concept The MiniDest are small, modular, automatic and remotely operated plants. These mini distilleries are installed in farms aimed to produce cor...
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