An official from UK-based cellulosic ethanol developer/producer TMO Renewables announced today it is expanding its portfolio to include polylactic acid (PLA) that will be produced at their Dunsfold Airfield site near Guildford, Surrey, starting the fourth quarter of 2014.
This site has been in operation since 2008 and has been used to demonstrate biomass-based ethanol at commercial scale. Blayne Jackson, head of business relations at TMO Renewables, said the company is looking for early off-takers for their PLA. The facility is expected to produce 3,000 tons per year of PLA.
“This is an exciting step forward for TMO as this will not only create the UK’s first PLA production unit but will coincide with the company’s second generation ethanol plant which is being built in Brazil,” said Blayne Jackson.
TMO noted the current PLA market in the UK is 100% imported. According to NNFCC, a UK-based bioeconomy consulting firm, demand for PLA in the UK is expected to reach 50 ktpy by 2025. Other UK-based companies looking to produce second generation PLA are Nuplas and Plaxica.
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| Demand for bioplastics in the UK is expected to increase. |
2 responses to “TMO Renewables to produce PLA”
Hi Doris, do you know if TMO Renewables will be licensing a strain and process to make PLA, for example from Natureworks or Myriant? Or will they be using a new proprietary process?
Thanks!
Hi Jerry,
I don’t know if they have licensed their technology from somebody else. Feel free to contact Blayne Jackson at this email: blayne@tmo-group.com.