BioRefineries Blog

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Lummus Technology and Citroniq Chemicals have signed a letter of intent for the development of Citroniq’s green polypropylene (PP) projects in North America. These projects will use Lummus’ VerdeneTM PP technology suite. Press release: " Lummus and Citroniq Sign Letter of Intent for Green Polypropylene Projects ", 25/04/2023. Citroniq and Lummus are creating the first world-scale sustainable bio-polypropylene production process in North America. The first plant will sequester about 1.2 MM tons of CO2 annually as solid polypropylene pellets, providing customers an impactful solution for reducing their carbon footprint and meeting their ESG goals.  With a projected investment of over US $5 billion and a combined PP annual capacity of over 3.5 billion pounds, Citroniq is prepared to execute a rapid expansion plan of its E2O process, to meet the market’s growing need for sustainable, carbon negative polypropylene at a competitive price.

Type of post: NEWS. Braskem has announced a project to evaluate an investment in producing carbon negative bio-based polypropylene (PP) in USA. The project would utilize Braskem's proven, proprietary technology to convert bioethanol into physically segregated bio-based polypropylene. Braskem is exploring partnership opportunities for this project with several clients, brand owners, and suppliers. Press release: " Braskem Announces Project to Evaluate Production of Bio-Based Polypropylene ", 17/01/2023. The US is home to the largest ethanol industry production in the world and consists of ample technology, infrastructure, and supply availability for a project in the polymers' value chain. Braskem's bio-based PP would be a drop-in solution that has the same technical properties and recyclability found today in Braskem's current PP portfolio, with the additional benefit of a negative carbon footprint. As the largest PP producer in the Americas and utilizing its p...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Following the construction of its first PLA plant in China in 2021, Futerro is planning to set up a new fully integrated biorefinery in the industrial and port area of Port-Jérôme, in the Caux Seine agglomeration (commune of Saint-Jean-de-Folleville), located on the Seine axis between Rouen and Le Havre. Press release: " Futerro aims to set-up a new fully integrated PLA biorefinery in Normandy, France ", 08/12/2022. Futerro has started negotiations with Caux-Seine Agglo and its economic development agency Caux-Seine Développement in order to build a new generation of vertically integrated biorefinery, with an annual production capacity of 75,000 tons. The project should potentially create 250 direct jobs and 900 jobs in adjacent sectors.  Futerro has already put an option on a plot of land of approximately 26.5 hectares located in the commune of Saint-Jean-de-Folleville, on the Port-Jérôme industrial estate, and has begun the ecological and enviro...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Collaboration between Neste, Borealis and MAM brings new soother made with renewably-sourced feedstock to market. Press release: "Collaboration between Neste, Borealis and MAM brings new soother made with renewably-sourced feedstock to market", 21/09/2022. Figure 1. The new MAM Original Pure soother is composed of renewably-sourced polypropylene (PP) from the Borealis Bornewables™ portfolio of circular polyolefins, manufactured with Neste RE™ produced entirely from renewable raw materials. Source: © MAM MAM has been creating innovative and unique baby products such as soothers and baby bottles for more than 45 years, and has recently launched its first climate-neutral soother. The new MAM Original Pure soother is composed of renewably-sourced polypropylene (PP) from the Bornewables™ portfolio of circular polyolefins, manufactured with Neste RE™ produced entirely from renewable raw materials. The packaging of MAM Original Pure soother, which also...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. LG Chem and ADM (held a signing ceremony launching two joint ventures for production of lactic acid and polylactic acid to meet growing demand for a wide variety of plant-based products, including bioplastics. Pending final investment decisions, the joint ventures have chosen Decatur (Illinois, USA) as the location of their intended production facilities. Press release: " LG Chem and ADM Launch Joint Ventures, Announce Intended Location for U.S. Production of Lactic Acid and Polylactic Acid Production ", 15/08/2022. Figure 1. ADM's North American headquarters in D ecatur The first joint venture, GreenWise Lactic, would produce up to 150,000 tons of high-purity corn-based lactic acid annually. ADM would be the majority owner of GreenWise, and would contribute fermentation capacity from its Decatur bioproducts facility to the venture. The second joint venture, LG Chem Illinois Biochem, would be majority-owned by LG Chem. It would build upon LG C...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Yield10 Bioscience has announced recent advances in the development of Camelina as a platform for the production of PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoates) bioplastics directly in the seed. Press release: “ Yield10 Bioscience Announces Recent Advances in the Development of Camelina as a Production Platform for PHA Bioplastic ”, 08/03/2022. Figure 1. Yield10 Bioscience announces advances in the production of PHA directly in Camelina seeds Those advancements include: - 2021 Field Test results: In 2021 Yield10 tested the two prototype PHA (C3014 and C3015) producing spring Camelina lines at sites in the U.S. and Canada. Results showed that C3015 lines produced PHA at the 6 percent level as measured as a percent of seed weight, consistent with results observed in field tests conducted in 2020. - 2022 Seed Scale up Plan: Field work completed during 2021 supports the Yield10’s decision to begin seed scale up of prototype PHA spring Camelina lines. Permitting is underw...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. LanzaTech has announced a collaboration with Inditex that led to the design of a capsule collection for the retail group’s largest brand (ZARA) that incorporates fabric made with carbon emissions, avoiding their emission into the atmosphere. Press release: “ LanzaTech and Zara Collaborate to Create a Capsule Collection Made from Recycled Carbon Emissions ”, 13/12/2021. ZARA collection website . Related posts: - “ LanzaTech, Total and L’Oréal produce first sustainable packaging made from carbon emissions ”, 29/10/2020. - “ LanzaTech and Twelve partner to transform CO2 emissions into polypropylene ”, 02/09/2021. Figure 1. Lanzatech and ZARA join forces to launch a collection with low carbon polyester yarn (taken from the ZARA website) LanzaTech’s biological process captures and converts steel mill emissions that would otherwise be emitted into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. LanzaTech recycles the emissions into Lanzanol (ethanol) t...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Avantium has taken a positive Final Investment Decision (FID) on the construction of its FDCA flagship plant. Press release: “ Avantium takes a positive Final Investment Decision on the construction of its FDCA Flagship Plant ”, 03/12/2021. 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 secures two additional offtake agreements for its planned FDCA biorefinery ”, 29/03/2021. Figure 1. The Journey of Avantium’s PEF towards Commercialisation The positive FID was taken after the company fulfilled all three Key Conditions it had defined: (1) securing sufficient financing; (2) finalising the engineering and establishing the supply chain; (3) and obtaining sufficient offtake commitments for the Flagship Plant. With the recent signing of a 90 M€ committed debt financing term sheet, the final outstandi...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Biotechnology company LanzaTech and carbon transformation company Twelve have partnered to transform CO2 emissions into polypropylene. Press release: “ Twelve and LanzaTech partner to produce the world’s first polypropylene from CO2 ”, 01/09/2021. Twelve’s carbon transformation technology converts CO2 into materials that are traditionally made from fossil fuels. The company helps brands eliminate emissions by replacing the petrochemicals in their products and supply chains with CO2Made® carbon negative chemicals and materials, as well as carbon neutral fuels. LanzaTech’s carbon recycling Pollution To Products™ technology uses nature-based solutions to produce ethanol and other materials from waste carbon sources. The partnership will bring together the two platform technologies to enable additional product development from CO2 streams, representing just one of many pathways to scale carbon transformation solutions. To pursue the...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. lululemon athletica inc. (lululemon) has announced a multi-year collaboration with Genomatica to bring biobased materials into its products. Press release: “ lululemon Partners with Leading Sustainable Materials Innovator Genomatica to Bring Bio-Nylon to Products ”, 18/08/2021. Related posts: - “ Genomatica produces the world’s first ton of renewable nylon intermediate ”, 03/02/2020. - “ Aquafil and Genomatica to build a demo plant to produce 100% renewable nylon-6 ”, 30/11/2020. Figure 1. Genomatica and lululemon join forces to create a renewable nylon to replace conventional nylon This represents lululemon’s first-ever equity investment in a sustainable materials company and Genomatica’s largest partnership within the retail industry. Together, the two companies will create a lower-impact, plant-based nylon to replace conventional nylon, which is the largest volume of synthetic material currently used to make lululemon product...

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. Neste and LyondellBasell have announced a long-term commercial agreement under which LyondellBasell will source Neste RE, a feedstock produced from biobased sources, such as waste and residue oils and fats. Press release: “ Neste and LyondellBasell agree on long-term commercial relationship to make polymers and chemicals from renewable feedstock more widely available to global brands ”, 17/06/2021. Related post: - “ LyondellBasell and Neste announce commercial-scale production of biobased PP and LDPE ”, 20/06/2019. - “ Neste RE – Neste launches a 100% renewable and recycled raw material for plastics and chemicals production ”, 01/12/2020. Figure 1. LyondellBasell’s site in Wesseling (taken from the press release) The feedstock will be processed through the cracker at LyondellBasell’s Wesseling, (Germany) plant into polymers and sold under the CirculenRenew brand name. In April 2021, LyondellBasell launched the Circulen family of...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Mitsui Chemicals , Neste and Toyota Tsusho have joined forces to enable Japan’s first industrial-scale production of renewable plastics and chemicals from 100% biobased hydrocarbons. Press release: “ Neste, Mitsui Chemicals and Toyota Tsusho collaborate to start Japan'sfirst production of renewable plastics from 100% bio-based hydrocarbons ”, 20/05/2021. Related post: “ Neste RE – Neste launches a 100% renewable and recycled raw material for plastics and chemicals production ”, 01/12/2020. In this collaboration, Mitsui Chemicals will use Neste RE, 100% biobased hydrocarbons produced by Neste, to replace a part of the fossil feedstock in the production of a variety of plastics and chemicals at its crackers within Osaka Works during 2021. In doing so, Mitsui Chemicals will become Japan’s first company to use biobased feedstock in its crackers. The introduction of Neste-produced biobased hydrocarbons as feedstock will allow Mitsui ...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. LyondellBasell has started the commercial production of virgin quality polymers from raw materials derived from plastic waste at its Wesseling site in Germany. Press release: “ LyondellBasell starts commercial production of polymers using raw material derived from plastic waste .”, 06/05/2021. Related posts: - “ LyondellBasell and Neste announce commercial-scale production of biobased PP and LDPE ”, 20/06/2019. - “ Chain of custody and blockchain in the bioeconomy and the circular economy – List of examples ”, 19/11/2020. Figure 1. First delivery of pyrolysis oil for polymer production at the LyondellBasell site in Wesseling (taken from the press release) LyondellBasell commissioned a pilot plant last year in Ferrara (Italy) to further develop its molecular recycling technology where plastic waste is converted into raw materials for the production of new plastics. Produced by the thermal conversion of plastic waste, pyrolysis oil...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. BASF , Quantafuel and REMONDIS have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly evaluate a cooperation in chemical recycling including a joint investment into a pyrolysis plant for plastic waste. Press release: “ BASF, Quantafuel and REMONDIS want to cooperate on chemical recycling of plastic waste ”, 21/04/2021. Figure 1. BASF’s ChemCycling project (taken from the press release) It is intended that REMONDIS supplies suitable plastic waste to the plant and BASF uses the resulting pyrolysis oil as feedstock in its production Verbund as part of its ChemCycling project. Quantafuel intends to provide the technology and to operate the plant. This company is a specialist for the pyrolysis of mixed plastic waste and the purification of the resulting pyrolysis oil. The location of the pyrolysis plant will be evaluated together. To maximize a circular economy for plastics, the parties will identify which of the waste plastics provide...

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. 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. Eastman Chemical Company has announced plans to build a plastic-to-plastic recycling facility at its site in Kingsport (Tennessee, USA). Press release: “ Eastman and Governor Lee Announce World-Scale Plastic-to-Plastic Molecular Recycling Facility to be Built in Kingsport, Tenn. ”, 20/01/2021. Figure 1. Coloured PET bottles (taken from the press release) Through methanolysis, the new plant will use over 100 ktons of polyester waste that cannot be recycled by current mechanical methods to produce plastics made with recycled content. This process will not only reduce the company's use of fossil feedstocks, but also reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 20-30% relative to fossil feedstocks. Methanolysis is a process where methanol is combined with PET to promote a chemical reaction that breaks down it to monomers, its basic building blocks. Those monomers are used to create new polymers that are indistinguishable from polymers created f...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS.  Neste is launching a new product, Neste RE, a 100% renewable and recycled raw material for plastics and chemicals production. Also, Royal DSM has just announced that it will start a strategic partnership with Neste to enable the production of high-performance polymers.  Press release 1: " Neste RE enables a future where all plastic products can be made of renewable and recycled materials – and the future starts today " , 26/11/2020.  Press release 2: " Neste and DSM announce strategic partnership to create high performance materials made from sustainable feedstock " , 27/11/2020.  Related posts:  - “ Biobased polyolefins - Biobased Polyethylene (bio-PE) ”, 27/05/2020.  - “ Five minutes with… Mercedes Alonso, Executive Vice President, Renewable Polymers and Chemicals, Neste ”, 21/07/2020.  - “ Neste and LG Chem join forces to develop biobased markets globally ”, 12/11/2020.  Figure 1. Neste launches a 1...

English version Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF.  LanzaTech , Total and L’Oréal have announced the production of the world’s first sustainable packaging made from captured and recycled carbon emissions in the form of renewable polyethylene.  Press release: “ LanzaTech, Total and L’Oréal announce a worldwide premiere: the production of the first cosmetic plastic bottle made from industrial carbon emissions ”, 27/10/2020.  Related post: “ Biobased polyolefins - Biobased Polyethylene (bio-PE) ”, 27/5/2020. Figure 1. LanzaTech, Total and L’Oréal produce first sustainable packaging made from captured and recycled carbon emissions   The conversion process takes place in three steps:  - LanzaTech captures industrial carbon emissions and converts them into ethanol using its gas fermentation process.  - Total, thanks to an innovative dehydration process jointly developed with IFP Axens, converts the ethanol into ethylene before polymerizing it into polyethylen...