BioRefineries Blog

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Worley has been 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). Press release: “ From plants to plastics: bringing a next-generation sustainable plastic to the market ”, 11/6/2020. Related posts: - “ BBI JU awards PEFerence project with 25 M€ for establishing a complete FDCA value chain ”, 9/6/2017. - “ BASF leaves Synvina ”, 19/12/2018. - “ Avantium redefines its commercialization strategy of PEF ”, 10/6/2019. - “ Avantium to provide PEF for the fully biobased and recyclable Paper Bottle ”, 14/10/2019. Figure 1. FDCA is a key building block for sustainable chemicals and polymers, such as the next-generation plastic material polyeth...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Avantium Renewable Polymers (Avantium RNP) has signed two additional conditional offtake agreements for the supply of PEF, bringing the total to four. Avantium RNP aims to commercialise its proprietary YXY® technology, which is used to produce FDCA (furandicarboxylic acid), the main building block of PEF (polyethylene furanoate, plant-based resin to manufacture bottles and films). Press release: “ Avantium secures new offtake contracts for planned FDCA flagship plant ”, 24/03/2021. Related posts: - “ Avantium redefines its commercialization strategy of PEF ”, 10/06/2019. - “ Worley awarded FEED contract for Avantium FDCA plant in Delfzijl ”, 15/06/2020. - “ Avantium announces 7.5 M€ grant to support the construction of its FDCA flagship plant ”, 09/12/2020. FDCA . The partners involved include chemical company Toyobo (Japan), polyester film producer Terphane (USA), the beverage bottling company Refresco (Netherlands) and a major gl...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS. Avantium will be one of the technology providers for the fully plant-based and recyclable Paper Bottle. A thin layer of Avantium’s polyethylene furanoate (PEF) will provide the Paper Bottle with the high barrier properties (the ability to withstand gas permeability through the bottle) needed for beverages such as beer and carbonated soft drinks. Press release: “ Avantium joins the Paper Bottle Project ”, 11/10/2019. Related posts:  “ Avantium redefines its commercialization strategy of PEF ”, 10/6/2019. Figure 1. Paboco (Paper Bottle Company) is a joint venture between paper packaging material developer BillerudKorsnäs and bottle manufacturing specialist Alpla The Paper Bottle Company (Paboco®) announced at the Paboco Pioneer Community Event in the Carlsberg Academy in Copenhagen that Avantium joins the Paper Bottle Project . Paboco is a joint venture between paper packaging material developer BillerudKorsnäs and bottle...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF.  Avantium has announced that the National Programme Groningen has confirmed the award of a 7.5 M€ grant to support the construction of its 5 ktons furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) flagship plant in Delfzijl (The Netherlands).  Press release: “ €7.5 million grant from National Programme Groningen confirmed ”, 07/12/2020.  Etiqueta:  FDCA . Related posts:  - “ FDCA (2,5-furandicarboxylic acid) biorefineries ”, 15/06/2017.  - “ Avantium redefines its commercialization strategy of PEF ”, 10/06/2019.  - “ Avantium to provide PEF for the fully biobased and recyclable Paper Bottle ”, 14/10/2019.  The National Programme Groningen (a partnership between the Dutch national government, the Province of Groningen and ten municipalities) is investing in projects that contribute to the future and prosperity of Groningen, focussing on economic development, the quality of the living environment, energy transition...

I came across this news while I was working in a new post of the series about biobased chemical building blocks . It is devoted to FDCA (furandicarboxylic acid) biorefineries and I hope it will be released next week. Before, I advance this announcement that Synvina published yesterday (see press release ). BBI JU have granted 25 M€ to PEFerence, a consortium of eleven companies, for supporting the establishment of an innovative value chain for the use of FDCA as precursor of PEF (polyethylenefuranoate). Figure 1. PEF bottle (extracted from Avantium web page) The challenge lies in establishing at industrial scale (TRL 8) first-of-a-kind, cost-effective biorefinery that converts biomass into FDCA and addressing its further conversion into biomaterials for identified applications. The grant includes the construction of the 50 kton FDCA reference plant of Synvina. For those readers who do not know, Avantium and BASF announced last October the formation of a new joint venture ...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. After BASF left Synvina earlier this year, Avantium acquired 100% ownership of the joint venture. The YXY technology, know-how and people have reverted to Avantium and the business unit has been renamed Avantium Renewable Polymers in order to operate under the Avantium brand. During the last months, the company has explored different scenarios with potential partners and customers to redefine the commercialization strategy of PEF meeting both market and capital requirements. The Technology & Markets Day held at its headquarters in Amsterdam on 6 th June served to unveil this strategy. Press release: “ Entering the Commercialization Phase for PEF ”, 6/6/2019. Related posts: - “ Synvina (Avantium and BASF JV) – The first FDCA biorefinery is coming ”, 8/10/2016. - “ BBI JU awards PEFerence project with 25 M€ for establishing a complete FDCA value chain ”, 9/6/2017. More information about FDCA:  FDCA biorefineries . Other news about ...

Publication date: 15/06/2017 Last update: 24/01/2018 Introduction 1,2,3,4,5 2,5-Furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), also known as dehydromucic acid and pyromucic acid, is an organic compound that was first detected in human urine. In fact, a healthy human produces 3-5 mg/day. It is a very stable compound. Some of its physical properties, such as insolubility in most of common solvents and a very high melting point (it melts at 342 °C), seem to indicate intermolecular hydrogen bonding. FDCA has two carboxylic acid groups, which makes it a suitable monomer for polycondensation reactions with diols or diamines. It is one of the top 12 value-added biobased chemicals listed by the US DoE in 2004. The list was updated in 2010 and FDCA was included again, but this time in a group together with furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF). Those three molecules are the main representatives of the furanics (furan derivatives) that has been referred to as “Sleeping Giants” beca...