Synthos to build a commercial bio-butadiene plant

It has been a long time coming for the commercialization of bio-based butadiene (at least for this one where you can count the percentage renewable content unlike some of the mass balance approaches). I have been monitoring this space for years and it seems Poland-based synthetic rubber tire manufacturer Synthos S.A. is ready to hit the commercial road with its plans to build a 40,000 tons/year bio-butadiene capacity using a process that will convert ethanol to butadiene.

Synthos said it will license BASF”s butadiene extraction technology from Lummus (via its Green Circle business) and leverage Lummus’ digitalization capabilities.  Lummus and Synthos have completed a feasibility study for this project last year and concluded that the bio-butadiene technology is ready for implementation. The companies have agreed to move into the engineering and design phase of the project.

I am not exactly sure about the specific technology that will be used for this project. Synthos has previously been developing a carbohydrate fermentation process with France-based Global Bioenergies in producing butadiene. Synthos also owns (as far as I remember) a 3.6% stake in Global Bioenergies which retains the exclusive rights on non-rubber applications under their bio-butadiene partnership agreement.

Now our friend at the Column noted an interesting tidbit that Trinseo was also working in an ethanol-based butadiene technology with ETB Catalytic Technologies which was announced last year. A pilot plant evaluation study between Trinseo and ETB was supposed to have been completed late last year.  However, The Column noted that Trinseo sold its synthetic rubber business in Germany to Synthos in December last year. I can’t find any information where the sale includes the bio-butadiene project. Even with the sale of the synthetic rubber business, Trinseo still consumes butadiene for its latex binders business.

In the meantime, let’s see if rubber tire manufacturer Michelin, who was also working on ethanol-based butadiene will also soon step up.