BioRefineries Blog

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 ...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. The Coca-Cola Company has revealed a next generation prototype bottle made from 100% plant-based plastic (bio-PET), excluding cap and label, using technologies that are now ready to be commercially scaled across the industry (validated at demonstration scale). Press release: “ Coca-Cola Unveils New Prototype Bottle Made From 100% Plant-Based Sources ”, 21/10/2021. Figure 1. Coca-Cola unveils 100% biobased prototype bottle made using technologies validated at demo scale In 2009, Coca-Cola launched PlantBottle, the world’s first recyclable PET plastic bottle made with up to 30% plant-based material. The company continued to invest toward the development of a 100% plant-based solution. In 2015, it unveiled its first prototypes for a 100% biobased PET PlantBottle, excluding cap and label, using laboratory-scale production methods to produce biobased paraxylene, still in early stages of development. The new prototype is the first bever...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Relement BV has raised its first capital investment from the TTT Smart Industries Fund that is managed by Innovation Industries , a deep-tech Venture Capital fund. Press release: “ A step forward towards a more sustainable chemical industry: bio-aromatics company Relement secures first capital investment ”, 09/06/2021. Related posts: “ TNO launches a spin-off company focused on bio-aromatics ”, 20/11/2020. Figure 1. Relement is focused on specialty bio-aromatics (taken from Relement website) Relement BV is a spin-off from Dutch Research and Development institute TNO. The company is uniquely positioned as a manufacturer of ingredients for coatings and materials, for which there is no renewable alternative today. The investment will enable Relement to contract partners for scaling up sample production for customers and strengthen technological development.

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Biorizon Shared Research Center , located at the Green Chemistry Campus , is working on a business plan for an application center for bio-aromatics . Press release: “ Biorizon investigates how an application center can accelerate market introduction of bio-aromatics ”, 05/02/2021. Related posts: BIO-AROMATICS . Figure 1. Value chain for the development of bio-aromatics (taken from the press release) Aromatics are important building blocks for the chemical industry: as many as 40% of all chemicals are aromatic in nature. They add essential functionality to products such as plastics, resins and coatings, including scratch resistance and UV stability. Currently, these aromatics are petrochemical-based and this has a negative impact on the climate. Biorizon is developing bio-aromatics based on biomass waste streams. Biorizon founders TNO and VITO together with the Green Chemistry Campus are now investigating how a Biorizon Applicati...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF.  TNO has announced the launch of Relement , its 25th spin-off company which will be focused on the development, production and marketing of specialty bio-aromatics.  Press release: “ TNO launches 25th spin-off company in the presence of the EZK State Secretary ”, 11/11/2020.  Related posts:  - “ TNO acquires the bio-aromatics patent portfolio of Avantium ”, 25/02/2020.  - “ TNO is installing a pyrolysis pilot plant for bio-aromatics production at the Green Chemistry Campus ”, 15/10/2020.   Figure 1. TNO launches Relement, a spin-off company focused on specialty bio-aromatics   Relement was established for the development, production and marketing of bio-aromatics developed by TNO within the Biorizon Shared Research Center. Aromatics are essential raw materials for coatings, adhesives, insulating foams and other high-quality applications. 40% of all chemical building blocks consist of aromatics, w...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF.  The PYRENA-PYPO pilot plant has arrived at Biorizon headquarters at the Green Chemistry Campus in Bergen op Zoom (Netherlands). With this highly advanced pyrolysis equipment, TNO's Energy Transition Unit will produce samples of bio-aromatics that will be tested in applications such as bitumen, rubber, marine fuels and resins.  Press release: “ TNO brings PYRENA-PYPO pyrolysis equipment to Green Chemistry Campus’ demo facility ”, 8/10/2020.  Related posts:  - “ Biorizon raises 10 M€ for the development of bio-aromatics ”, 1/12/2017.  - “ VITO will build a pilot plant of bio-aromatics from lignin through the LignoValue Pilot project ”, 30/7/2018.  - “ LignoValue Pilot project partners select the technology to scale up bio-aromatics production ”, 2/7/2019.  - “ TNO acquires the bio-aromatics patent portfolio of Avantium ”, 25/2/2020.  Figure 1. The PYRENA-PYPO pilot plant has arrived at Biorizon head...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF.  Cargill and Virent, Inc. (Virent) are working together to evaluate the use of Cargill’s corn dextrose as a feedstock to Virent’s BioForming® technology for the production of “drop-in” low-carbon biobased fuels and chemicals.  Press release: “ Cargill and Virent collaborate to study Virent’s BioForming® technology to produce biobased fuels and chemicals ”, 30/9/2020.  Figure 1. Virent’s BioForming® platform (taken from the company website)  Virent’s BioForming® technology uses sugars found in plants as a feedstock to produce drop-in renewable gasoline and jet fuel, as well as lower carbon biobased chemicals, including bio-paraxylene, a key raw material for producing 100% renewable and recyclable biopolyester. The sugars may originate from any plant source, including first generation crops such as corn, sugar cane and sugar beets, as well as lignocellulosic materials derived from wood, corn stover, bagasse and...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Avantium has sold its bio-aromatics patent portfolio to The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO). Press release: “ Avantium sells bioaromatics patent portfolio to TNO ”, 24/2/2020. Related posts: - “ Biorizon raise 10 M€ for the development of bio-aromatics ”, 1/12/2017. - “ Biorizon is looking for partners interested in the development of biobased phthalic anhydride ”, 1/9/2019. Figure 1. TNO is one of the co-founders of Biorizon, an initiative that is developing technologies for producing aromatics from vegetal residual and other streams (extracted from TNO website) The sale includes both patents and know-how for technologies that produce bioderived products for polymers and coatings. These technologies lie outside Avantium’s strategic focus and will now be further developed by TNO. Avantium will continue to support TNO in this area and can provide proprietary single flow testing ...

Versión en Español 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 CO 2 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 to start the scaling-up of its technology with a new pilot plant ”, 5/7/2018. - “ 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 pr...

Type of post: NEWS. Biorizon co-initiator TNO is looking for partners that are interested in the development of biobased phthalic anhydride (PA). News: “ Call for Participation: Biobased Phthalic Anhydride ”, 28/8/2019. Towards Biobased PA PA is one of the main aromatic building blocks that is used in plasticizers and resins. The estimated global market size for PA is around 8,000 M€ (5,000 kton of PA), with an estimated 56.5% of this being used for plasticizers and 18.1% ending up in unsaturated polyester resins. Only a 10% replacement of the petrochemical variant by biobased PA could mean reducing CO 2 emissions by almost 1,000 kton globally. The pathway that will be developed within the “Towards Biobased PA” project has the potential to become the most cost-efficient route. The Biorizon Diels-Alder platform technology will be used for the production of biobased PA. The novel route starts from furfuryl alcohol made from residual feedstock that does not compete...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. It is about just over a year since the Blog reported on the launch of the LignoValue Pilot project , an initiative aimed at building a pilot plant in Flanders for the production of bio-aromatics from lignin. Recently, some progresses of the project have been unfolded. Press release: “ LignoValue Pilot Project: Technology Selected & Call for Application Testing ”, 22/6/2019. Related post: “ VITO will build a pilot plant of bio-aromatics from lignin through the LignoValue Pilot project ”, 30/7/2018. Figure 1. LignoValue Pilot logo Technology selection VITO, Worley België and Flemish Environmental Holding (VMH) have announced the technology they will use to scale up production of bio-aromatics in the LignoValue pilot installation: metal-catalyzed depolymerisation of lignin using a heterogeneous catalyst in solvent medium under H 2 atmosphere . The decision is based on a landscape analysis of technologies carried out by VITO and KU L...

Type of post: NEWS. In November 2015, Anellotech received funding to scale-up its Thermo Catalytic Biomass Conversion (Bio-TCAT™) process for the production of bio-aromatics. The company had been running a pilot plant since December 2013 and the next step was the installation of a new, fully-integrated development and testing facility called TCat-8. This 25 meter-tall unit would generate the data needed to design commercial plants using the technology. The trials on TCat-8® started last year in Silsbee (Texas, USA). Now, Anellotech has confirmed that Bio-TCat™ has proved its viability by achieving commercially targeted yields during six months of continuous process operations in the unit. Press release: “ Bio-TCat™ technology viability confirmed during extensive Anellotech pilot plant campaign ”, 6/5/2019. Related posts: - “ Anellotech receives funding to install its TCat-8 demonstration facility ”, 26/11/2015. - “ Anellotech ships first bio-aromatics samples from its T...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Aramid fibers are a type of super strong synthetic fibers with a very high melting point. The name is a portmanteau of "aromatic polyamide" and they are used in multiple applications: protective clothing, freight containers, armored vehicles, tires… Teijin Aramid produces aramid fibers under the brand name Twaron® using fossil resources for which there are currently no sustainable alternatives. This company wants to examine the possibility of producing a biobased version of its product and it is starting to work together with BioBTX on a fiber made entirely of renewable materials (see “ BioBTX and Teijin Aramid are looking at sustainable feedstock for super fiber ” on BioBTX website). The initiative is financially supported by the provinces of Drenthe and Groningen and by Chemport Europe . Figure 1. BioBTX and Teijin Aramid to jointly develop biobased aramids (extracted from the website of BioBTX) BioBTX has developed a sustainab...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. New member The NaturALL Bottle Alliance is a research consortium formed in 2017 by Danone , Nestlé Waters and Origin Materials , aimed to develop and launch at commercial scale a PET plastic bottle made from 100% sustainable and renewable resources. From now on, the Alliance has a new member. PepsiCo has joined the partnership to advance the shared goal of creating beverage containers with a significantly reduced carbon footprint. Press release: “ Danone, Nestlé Waters and Origin Materials welcome PepsiCo to the NaturALL Bottle Alliance ”, 10/9/2018. Related post: “ NaturALL Bottle Alliance (Danone, Nestlé Waters and Origin Materials) to build a pioneer bio-PET plant ”, 6/3/2017. Figure 1. NaturALL Bottle Alliance – Towards 100% biobased PET Demo-scale plant progress report - Samples of 80% biobased PET were produced at pilot scale in 2017. - The building of a demonstration-scale plant has begun in Sarnia (Ontario, Canada). ...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. VITO (Flemish research organisation in the area of cleantech and sustainable development) and other partners have launched the ERDF LignoValue Pilot project. This initiative is aimed at building a pilot plant in Flanders for the production of bio-aromatics from lignin. The pilot will meet the needs of various companies that have expressed an interest in innovative molecules and a willingness to carry out application testing. Location Flanders (Belgium). The pilot is designed to be mobile, ensuring that interested companies can host and experience the performance at their own site. Feedstock Lignin. Products Bio-aromatics. Capacity 200 kg/day. Technology status TRL 5-6. The majority of the involved technologies has already been proven at lab scale. Expected start-up Q1 2021. Project budget 4.3 M€. Co-funded by ERDF, the province of Antw...

Type of post: FLASH NEWS. Anellotech recently achieved two new milestones at its TCat-8® pilot plant in Texas: - The first shipment of BTX has been sent to its joint development partners IFPEN and Axens for purification studies to obtain bio-paraxylene (bio-PX). This aromatic compound will be used to make renewable PET resin for prototype bottle manufacture and product testing. - Since the announcement of a successful two-week continuous pilot plant trial in March 2018, over 1,200 hours of cumulative on-stream time have been achieved at TCat-8®. Press release: “ Developments at Anellotech Plant Bring 100% Bio-based Plastic Bottle Closer to Reality ”, 16/7/2018. Related posts: - “ Anellotech receives funding to install its TCat-8 demonstration facility ”, 26/11/2015. - “ Anellotech and Suntory strengthen their alliance for development and commercialization of biobased PET bottles ”, 30/1/2018. Figure 1. Anellotech logo

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Earlier last month, BioBTX (a Dutch start-up focused on the field of bio-aromatics) moved its corporate offices from Innolab to EnTranCe (Energy Transition Center, it offers state-of-the-art facilities and technical support for product research, development and testing), both on the Zernike campus in Groningen (Netherlands). The relocation was a logical step taking into account the imminent arrival of its new pilot plant to the Zernike Advance Processing (ZAP) facilities at EnTranCe. In this way, the offices can be as close as possible to the pilot plant for optimal operation and communication. BioBTX has developed the Integrated Cascading Catalytic Pyrolysis (ICCP) technology. In the ICCP process, there is no direct contact between the biomass and the zeolite catalyst. This configuration protects the catalyst against poisoning by minerals from the biomass, thereby increasing its lifetime significantly. Moreover, highly contaminated feedstocks ...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Anellotech is a sustainable technology company focused on the production of bio-aromatics. This month, it made two important announcements regarding to its Bio-TCat process, which is aimed to produce cost-competitive renewable aromatic chemicals (benzene, toluene and xylenes, “BTX”) from non-food biomass for use in manufacturing plastics (polyester, nylon, polycarbonate, polystyrene) or for renewable transportation fuels. On the one hand, Anellotech announced that Japan-based Suntory Holdings Limited , one of the world’s leading consumer beverage companies, has invested an additional 9 M$ in its Bio-TCat technology (see press release , 18/1/2018). This latest tranche, which is part of a new 15 M$ package based on Anellotech achieving specific milestones, brings Suntory’s total investment in the renewable chemicals company to more than 25 M$ to date. This alliance began in 2012 with the goal of enabling the development and commercialization of co...