Just in time for my Biomaterials newsletter deadline, Archer Daniels Midland and DuPont Industrial Biosciences announced the opening of the world’s first biobased furan dicarboxylic methyl ester (FDME) pilot production facility in ADM’s Decatur, Illinois site. FDME is a building block molecule derived from fructose that can be used in various chemicals and materials production including plastics such as polytrimethylene furandicarboxylate (PTF), a 100% renewable polymer composed of FDME and 1,3 propanediol (PDO).

Like polyethylene furanoate (PEF) currently being developed by Synvina, Corbion, etc., PTF is being developed as an alternative to PET but with reported substantial improvement in gas barrier properties that will make it an ideal polymer choice in the beverage packaging industry looking to improve the shelf life of their products.  According to the press release, PTF has up to 10-15x the CO2 barrier performance of traditional PET plastic.

I am writing a bit more about this on Tecnon OrbiChem’s May Biomaterials issue. In the meantime, here’s a nice video link about the pilot plant opening in Decatur covered by a local TV station.

ADM and DuPont opening manufacturing facility in Decatur

The official website for WAND News. Local news, live weather, and sports, along with many special features like Around Central Illinois and up-to-date breaking news.