BioRefineries Blog

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 IN BRIEF. Avantium has announced that its subsidiary Avantium Renewable Polymers has signed a patent license agreement with Eastman Chemical Company for the right to operate under Eastman’s FDCA-related patent portfolio. Press release: “ Avantium acquires the right to use Eastman’s FDCA-related patent portfolio ”, 09/02/2021. Related posts: FDCA . This patent license agreement further paves the way for the commercial production of FDCA (furandicarboxylic acid) and PEF (polyethylene furanoate) from Avantium FDCA flagship plant, which dependent on a positive final investment decision, is planned to start up in 2023. The licence will also be available for any subsequent industrial scale facility built on the basis of Avantium’s FDCA and PEF technology. Under the agreement, Avantium will pay Eastman a licensing fee and ongoing royalty payments related to manufactured volumes. Payments will be partly made in Avantium shares.

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...

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. Stora Enso is investing 9 M€ to build a pilot facility for enabling the production of biobased plastics as barrier in transparent packaging. The pilot plant will focus on developing a cost-competitive process for manufacturing furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) from sugars. FDCA is a key component of the polyethylene furanoate (PEF). In addition to its renewable nature, PEF’s attractive barrier, mechanical and thermal properties open up new packaging opportunities. The new pilot project will be run by Stora Enso’s Biomaterials division. Press release: “ Stora Enso invests in pilot plant for bio-based plastic packaging material ”, 10/12/2019. Other posts about FDCA and PEF: - “ FDCA (2,5-furandicarboxylic acid) biorefineries ”, 15/6/2017 - “ Avantium redefines its commercialization strategy of PEF ”, 10/6/2019. - “ Novamont to build a demo plant for the production of FDCA ”, 21/10/2019. Figure 1. FDCA crystals (taken fro...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Novamont has announced a 10 M€ investment programme, as part of the expansion and diversification of its production plant in Terni, for the construction of a demonstration plant dedicated to the production of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) . Press release: “ Novamont starts construction of a demo plant for the production of furandicarboxylic acid ”, 16/10/2019. Related posts: “ FDCA (2,5-furandicarboxylic acid) biorefineries ”, 15/6/2017. Figure 1. Novamont to build a demo plant for the production of FDCA in its Terni plant Thus, Novamont joins the exclusive group of companies striving to bring FDCA to market. This compound is a platform for multiple applications and Novamont will use it as a raw material for the synthesis of polyesters and biodegradable and compostable biomaterials. This will enable the production of fifth-generation MATER-BI as well as a series of products with oxygen and carbon dioxide barrie...

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...

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 ...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. The Blog is following with interest the advancements in the commercialization of the 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), one of the most promising platform molecules in the biorefining landscape and key building block for the biopolymer PEF. Synvina lead the group. It is a joint venture of Avantium and BASF established in in October 2016 with the intent to build and operate a reference plant for FDCA production. But, the path forward is not smooth. Synvina has now completed a broad feasibility assessment for commercial-scale production in the reference plant which will be located in Antwerp. The assessment looked at product performance, market appetite and technical process. It confirmed that product performance and customer demand are strong. In the technical process evaluation, Synvina identified some steps that require improvement. It recommends undertaking additional development work on these steps, to ensure the most efficient process ...

After the last post about the advancements of VTT on bioplastics field (muconic acid and furan derivatives from aldaric acids), I bring another recent movement with regard to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA). Late last month, Eastman Chemical Company and Origin Materials (formerly known as Micromidas)  entered into a non-exclusive agreement for Eastman to license its proprietary FDCA and FDCA derivatives production technology from renewable resources to Origin Materials ( press release , 25/09/2017). Eastman has developed a process for economically competitive conversion of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) and its derivatives to crude FDCA, polymer grade FDCA and polymer grade dimethylfuran-2,5-dicarboxylate (DMF). The acquisition of this technology will enable Origin Materials to produce FDCA monomer, which can then be used by its customers to manufacture polyethylene furanoate (PEF) bottles and films. Eastman technology: Process Oxidation of 5-HMF i...

For many experts, 2,5-Furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) is called upon to revolutionise the biobased plastics industry in the near future. The main production material of drinking bottles is still oil-based PET using purified terephthalic acid (PTA) and ethylene glycol (EG). However, FDCA can replace PTA to obtain PEF, a new high-performance biopolymer. Recently, the Blog devoted a whole post to FDCA (see FDCA biorefineries ). Such post shows a non-exhaustive list of the most important processes developed or under research by companies and research institutes. VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd is working on one of them and it has just unveiled interesting information about it. Last week, in the webinar “ Green plastics without the bio-premium: FDCA and muconic acid transforming the industry ”, this Finish centre introduced its work on the aforementioned furan derivative and on the muconic acid, another versatile chemical with potential to change the polymer industry. The...

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...