BioRefineries Blog

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Mercurius Biorefining has finalised commissioning and is about to commence operations at their pilot plant at QUT 's Biocommodities Facility in Mackay (Australia) that will use Mercurius' patented REACH technology to produce renewable chemicals, diesel and jet fuel from sugarcane waste. Press release: “ Mackay biorefinery pilot plant ready for take-off ”, 13/10/2021. Related posts: - “ Mercurius Biorefining plans to establish pilot and demo plants in Queensland ”, 23/02/2018. - “ QUT receives funding to commercialise biorefinery products ”, 19/09/2019. Figure 1. Darryn Rackemann (QUT) and Karl Seck (Mercurius) examining the feedstock Karl Seck (CEO at Mercurius) has been in Mackay assisting in site preparations for the pilot equipment installation and commissioning. QUT will be looking into the commercial opportunities from the REACH technology which could lead to producing renewable fuels and chemicals in Queensland crea...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Arkema has announced the construction of a biobased polyamide 11 powders plant on its Changshu platform in China. Press release: “ A new bio-based polyamide 11 powders plant in China ”, 11/10/2021. Related post: “ Arkema to begin production at its new biobased polyamide 11 biorefinery in the first half of 2022 ”, 26/04/2021. Figure 1. Arkema to build a new biobased polyamide 11 powders plant in China The plant is scheduled to come on stream in the first quarter of 2023. This investment will further support the growing demand for advanced biocircular materials in Asia. Rilsan® polyamide 11 powders, currently produced in France entirely from castor beans, are used in very demanding applications and provide innovative solutions for fast-growing markets driven by megatrends such as durable home appliances, energy-efficient transport, and advanced additive manufacturing (3D printing) primarily for consumer, industrial and aerospace marke...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Chinese petrochemicals corporation Jiangsu Sailboat Petrochemicals Co. ltd has signed an agreement with Icelandic technology company Carbon Recycling International (CRI) to design a chemical plant based on CRI’s “Emissions to Liquids” (ETL) technology. Press release: “ CRI signs agreement with Jiangsu Sailboat for a 100,000 tons per year CO2 to methanol plant ”, 28/09/2021. Figure 1. CRI and Jiangsu Sailboat sign agreement for the construction of a CO2 to methanol plant. The agreement was signed at parallel signing ceremonies held in Iceland and China. The plant will recycle approximately 150 ktons of CO2 and 20 ktons of H2 per year from other onsite processes to produce 100 ktons of methanol annually. The Jiangsu Sailboat Green Methanol plant will be built in Lianyungang (Jiangsu province on the east coast of China), integrated into their 15 km2 Shenghong petrochemical industrial park. Methanol is the main raw material used in ...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Braskem (the largest biopolymer producer in the world) has signed a memorandum of understanding with SCG Chemicals (one of the largest integrated petrochemical companies in Thailand) to perform studies to jointly invest in a new bioethanol dehydration plant in Thailand to produce biobased ethylene and polyethylene. Press release: “ Braskem and SCG Chemicals to study joint investment into bio-based ethylene production for bio-based polyethylene in Thailand ”, 09/09/2021. Related posts: “ Biobased polyolefins - Biobased Polyethylene (bio-PE) ”. Figure 1. Green ethylene plant at the Triunfo Petrochemical Complex in Rio Grande do Sul (RS) This Project would allow the combination of Braskem's technology and bioplastics know-how with SCG Chemicals' knowledge of the Asian market and expertise in PE production. If the feasibility studies are approved with mutual agreement between parties, the production facility would be located i...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. LG Chem will partner with biodiesel company Dansuk Industrial to establish a joint HVO plant, in order to secure biobased materials required for the production of more sustainable products. Press release: “ LG Chem to build Korea's first next-generation Hydro-Treated Vegetable Oil plant with Dansuk Industrial ”, 02/09/2021. Figure 1. LG Chem has signed a Heads of Agreement (HOA) for the establishment of an HVO joint venture on September 2nd at the Dansuk Industrial headquarters in Siheungin the presence of executives from both companies The two companies will sign the definitive agreement in the first quarter of next year and aim to complete the construction of the production plant by 2024. This is the first time that an HVO plant will be built in Korea, and this plant is one of 10 new plants at the Daesan Complex recently announced by LG Chem. When a joint venture is established, LG Chem will prepare a base for supplying ra...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Toyo Engineering Corporation together with JERA Co., Inc., Mitsubishi Power, Ltd., and ITOCHU Corporation have launched a study to establish a commercial-scale production technology of SAF (Sustainable Avianton Fuel) and create a supply chain of SAF in Japan integrating technologies of gasification and FT synthesis. Press release Toyo: “ TOYO to participate in a joint study for the establishment of a commercial-scale SAF production technology and the creation of a supply chain ”, 31/08/2021. Press release Velocys: “ Velocys collaboration with Toyo advances to commercial stage ”, 31/08/2021. Related post: “ Velocys secures order for a biojet fuel demo plant in Japan ”, 24/09/2019. Figure 1. Toyo to participate in a study for the establishment of a commercial-scale SAF biorefinery in Japan The entire project period is about 4 years (2021-2024). The consortium will study how to materialize SAF production business and evaluate its bu...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC) has signed a licensing agreement with Kuraray Co., Ltd. and Kuraray trading Co., Ltd. for the basic patent JP4380654 on biobased polyester and related patents. Press release: “ Mitsubishi Chemical Licenses Patent for Biomass-based Polyester to Kuraray Group ”, 28/06/2021. This licensed product refers to PET (polyethylene terephthalate) derived from biomass and is expected to be used for various purposes including fibre production. The patent owned by MCC is the basic one required for business operations engaged in the manufacture or sale of this material. MCC has already registered the patent not only in Japan but also in the US, EU and China.

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Greenjoules Pvt. Ltd. (Pune-based green energy technology firm) has raised 4.5 M$ from Blue Ashva Capital (investment firm based out of Singapore and India). The funding, a mix of debt and equity, will be utilised to set up commercial scale waste-to-energy plants and R&D initiatives. Press release: “ Green Energy company Greenjoules raises USD 4.5 M from Blue Ashva Capital ”, 09/06/2021. Figure 1. Greenjoules biorefinery in Chakan (taken from Greenjoules website) Greenjoules is an incubatee company of Science and Technology Park of Pune and has received funding support under Seed Support System of Department of Science and Technology (DST) of the Government of India. The company was founded in 2018 and is led by V Radhika, VS Shridhar, S Viraraghavan and R Sethunath. The management team has a strong corporate background, having worked with Indian and Global multinationals for over two decades. Greenjoules uses wastes as feed...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Ginkgo Bioworks and Sumitomo Chemical have announced a R&D collaboration program to develop more sustainable biobased chemicals for multiple industries. Press release: “ Ginkgo Bioworks Announces R&D Collaboration with Sumitomo Chemical to Develop More Sustainable Bio-Based Chemicals for Multiple Industries ”, 07/06/2021. Figure 1. Ginkgo and Sumitomo Chemical join forces to develop more sustainable biobased chemicals Sumitomo Chemical seeks to leverage Ginkgo's long-established expertise in organism engineering to significantly increase the production efficiency and sustainability of a key biobased commercial products. Sumitomo Chemical was founded around a mission to drive societal impact and solve environmental challenges through technology, and the company has chosen to leverage Ginkgo's extensive cell programming platform and biological codebase to explore next generation solutions as Sumitomo Chemical looks t...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS. NatureWorks has announced the completion of key milestones in their global manufacturing expansion plan for a new fully integrated Ingeo PLA production facility that is anticipated to open in Thailand by 2024, subject to shareholder approval. Press release: “ NatureWorks Announces Key Milestones for Global Manufacturing Expansion with New 75kTa Facility for Producing Ingeo Biopolymer in Thailand ”, 02/06/2021. Figure 1. NatureWorks PLA plant in Blair. In 2002, NatureWorks became the first company to produce PLA biopolymers at commercial scale. In 2013, expanded its facility to an annual total capacity of 150 ktons. NatureWorks also completed a portfolio of enhancements to the Blair site enabling the plant to establish a new record production level in 2019. When fully operational the new plant will have an annual capacity of 75 ktons of Ingeo biopolymer and will produce the full portfolio of Ingeo grades. The new manufacturing complex will...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Prime Infrastructure Holdings Corporation (Prime Infra) has established a new subsidiary, WasteFuel Philippines, for its waste-to-fuel project being developed in partnership with US-based WasteFuel Global . Press release (Prime Infra): “ Prime Infra forms unit for waste-to-fuel project ”, 19/05/2021. The new company is evaluating the feasibility of building a biorefinery in Luzon (Philippines) that would convert over 1 Mtons of municipal waste into 30 Mgal of low-carbon synthetic crude oil (syncrude) annually. The facility is eyed to be operational by 2025. NetJets , a leader in private aviation, has committed to purchase a minimum of 100 Mgal of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from WasteFuel over the next ten years.

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Arkema is on track to begin production of the monomer Amino 11 and the polymer Rilsan (polyamide 11) at the new plant on Jurong Island (Singapore) in the first half of next year. This plant, for which production will be 100%-derived from castor beans, represents a 50% increase in Arkema’s global polyamide 11 capacity. Press release: “ Arkema to start up new bio-based polyamide 11 plant in Singapore in the first half of 2022 ”, 22/04/2021. Integrated bio-factory dedicated to high performance polymers . Figure 1. Arkema to begin production at its new biobased polyamide 11 biorefinery in the first half of 2022 When complete, the facility will represent the biggest integrated bio-factory in the world dedicated to high performance polymers. The total investment in the region, which also includes downstream polymer capacities in China, is approximately 450 M€. To finance this new plant in Singapore, Arkema successfully placed its first ev...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Clariant is working with Pertamina (Indonesia's state-owned oil and gas corporation) to evaluate and test the feasibility of Clariant's sunliquid® technology to process available regional feedstocks in Indonesia into cellulosic ethanol . Press release: - “ Clariant collaborates with Indonesia's Pertamina in advanced biofuels assessment ”, 19/04/2021. Related posts: - “ Harbin Hulan Sino-Dan Jianye Bio-Energy plans to build a cellulosic ethanol plant in China with Clariant’s sunliquid® technology ”, 02/02/2021. - “ Clariant moves forward with the installation of the Valmet pretreatment BioTrac at the cellulosic ethanol biorefinery in Podari ”, 05/04/2021. Figure 1. Pertamina's project team visiting Clariant's pre-commercial sunliquid® plant in Straubing at the end of 2019 (Photo: Clariant) In Indonesia, ethanol demand is expected to increase dramatically, spurred primarily by a nationwide E10 ethanol blending mand...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS. Toyo Engineering Corporation (Toyo) has been awarded a contract for the project to construct a pilot plant to produce ethylene from waste-derived ethanol, planned by Sumitomo Chemical Company at its Chiba Works. Press release: “ TOYO Awarded Ethylene Pilot Plant Project in Japan Using Waste-derived Ethanol as Raw Material ”, 13/04/2021. Related post: “ Biobased polyolefins - Biobased Polyethylene (bio-PE) ”, 27/05/2020. Figure 1. Sumitomo Chemical and Sekisui Chemical has formed a strategic alliance to deploy technology for manufacturing polyolefins using waste as feedstock (extracted from a Sumitomo press release ) Toyo has worked with Sumitomo Chemical since the basic design of the plant and currently carries out the detail engineering, procurement, and construction under a lump-sum contract, aiming to start demonstration operation of the plant for a short period. In February 2020, Sumitomo Chemical and Sekisui Chemical agreed to form a stra...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Praj Industries has ensured an order to expand the capacity of the sugarcane ethanol plant of Godavari Biorefineries Ltd (GBL) in Karnataka. As a part of this project, Praj will expand the existing ethanol manufacturing capacity (400 kL per day) to 600 kL per day. Press release: “ Praj to set up India’s largest capacity sugarcane syrup based ethanol plant for Godavari Biorefineries ”, 12/04/2021. Related posts: - “ USA’s first bagasse-based biorefinery will deploy Praj’s Enfinity technology ”, 07/09/2019. - “ Praj and Sekab team up to accelerate a green transition ”, 25/05/2020. Figure 1. Godavari biorefineries selects Praj to expand the capacity of its ethanol plant in Karnataka When commissioned, this will become India’s largest capacity syrup-based ethanol plant. This capacity expansion planned by GBL is in line with the Government’s Biofuel policy to increase the ethanol manufacturing quantity in India using various sugary f...

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...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS. BASF has signed two partnerships agreements to expand its global position in the biobased surfactants market. Press release: “ BASF strengthens its position in biosurfactants for Personal Care, Home Care and Industrial Formulators with two distinct partnerships ”, 10/03/2021. Figure 1. BASF partners with biobased surfactant companies in Japan and the UK (taken from Holiferm website) (1) A strategic alliance with Allied Carbon Solutions Co.,Ltd (ACS), Japanese provider of surfactants from biomass. The strategic alliance with ACS includes an equity stake and makes BASF the single largest shareholder. The partners have agreed not to disclose financial details regarding the investment. In collaboration with ACS, BASF developed a novel sophorolipid-based ingredient, produced via fermentation technology, and launched it in the Asian market under the brandname BioToLife™ in the second quarter of 2020. BioToLife™ can curb the overgrowth of some harmf...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IndialOil) plans to set up cellulosic ethanol biorefineries in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh (India). News (The Times of India): “ IOC to set up mega biorefineries in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh ”, 25/02/2021. CELLULOSIC ETHANOL These biorefineries, which will produce ethanol from agricultural wastes like wheat and paddy straw, are part of IndianOil’s plans to set up 12 biorefineries across multiple states, including Haryana, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh. According to the news, the biorefineries will have a capacity of 500 kL/day and are slated to come up at an investment of Rs 600 crore (around 68 M€) each. The company has approached the Telangana government which has identified two parcels of land for the project and is yet to approach the Andhra Pradesh government. The Telangana biorefinery would set up within 200 km of Hyderabad’s periphery. The facilities will take at least 18 months to come up after IndianOi...

English version Type of post: NEWS. Clariant has just announced that it has signed a license agreement with Harbin Hulan Sino-Dan Jianye Bio-Energy (subsidiary of the Sino-Dan Jianye Group) for its sunliquid® cellulosic ethanol technology. This Chinese green energy company intends to build a commercial scale plant for the production of cellulosic ethanol in Heilongjiang Province (China). Press release: “ Clariant and Harbin Hulan Sino-Dan Jianye Bio-Energy announce license agreement for sunliquid® cellulosic ethanol technology in China ”, 02/02/2021. Related posts: - “ Clariant starts the construction of its cellulosic ethanol plant in Romania ”, 17/09/2018. - “ ORLEN Południe intends to build a cellulosic ethanol plant in Poland with Clariant’s technology ”, 23/09/2019. - “ Anhui Guozhen and Chemtex to build a cellulosic ethanol biorefinery in China with Clariant’s technology ”, 08/01/2020. - “ Eta Bio plans to build a cellulosic ethanol plant in Bulgaria with Clariant’s sunliquid t...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF.  Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has announced that all is set to open its 2G ethanol biorefinery in Odisha in early 2022. The facility will produce ethanol from agricultural waste.  BPLC LinkedIn update , 25/11/2020.  Related posts:  - “ Bharat Petroleum planning to set up a lignocellulosic biorefinery ”, 20/05/2016.  - “ Praj receives confirmation to initiate work on commercial scale cellulosic ethanol plant for BPCL ”, 26/02/2018.  - “ TATA Projects to take part in the construction of the 2G ethanol biorefinery of BPCL in Bargarh ”, 26/02/2018.  Figure 1. BPLC to open its 2G ethanol biorefinery in early 2022   Key data of the project   Location: Bargarh (Odisha, India).  Feedstocks: rice straw and maize stalk.  Product and production capacity: 100 kL per day of fuel grade ethanol meeting specifications as per IS 15464:2004.  Technology provider: Praj.