Green Chemicals Blog
PEF
Bioplastics to enter 2023 with a strong capacity surge
I’ve written a special report about the bioplastics industry this month based on the European Bioplastics’ recent annual conference held in Berlin and the release of their industry data which was compiled by nova Institute. This report is only available for Tecnon OrbiChem’s Bio-Materials subscribers, but anybody can access the European Bioplastics Association’s press release … Continue reading
Avantium’s bio-glycols in polyesters and deicers
Avantium announced this week that it has completed the application validation for its plant-based glycols plantMEG™ (monoethylene glycol) and plantMPG™ (monopropylene glycol) produced in Avantium’s Ray Technology™ demo plant in Delfzijl, the Netherlands. Key applications include polymerisation to PEF and PET polyesters and functional fluids used for de-icing and heat transfer. In 2020, Avantium successfully … Continue reading
Avantium in FDCA deal; releases 2030 Sustainability Plan
Avantium announced on February 9 that its subsidiary, Avantium Renewable Polymers, signed a patent license agreement with Eastman Chemical Company for the right to operate under Eastman’s FDCA-related patent portfolio. Now the press release just really contains three paragraphs but this is loaded news when you get the implication of a cost-economic production of FDCA … Continue reading
Origin Materials going public
Deals with special purpose acquisition companies (SPAC) seem to be the favourite route these days for bio-based chemical start-ups to shorten the timeframe of the cumbersome IPO (initial public offering) process. The blog reported last month Danimer Scientific’s debut at the New York Stock Exchange after going through a similar process with Live Oak Acquisition … Continue reading
Strong growth for bioplastics in 2020
The renewable chemicals and bioplastics markets have been surprisingly strong and very active in terms of investments this year amid the global COVID-19 pandemic. At the 4-day 15th European Bioplastics (EUBP) Conference that virtually took place earlier this month, the organization reported its annual market update noting that the global bioplastics production capacity is set … Continue reading
Stora Enso enters the FDCA market
The market for furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) is getting more traction with new players entering this space. Stora Enso announced on December 10 that it is investing EUR 9 million to build a pilot facility to focus on developing a cost-competitive process for manufacturing FDCA from sugars. FDCA is a key component of the bio-based barrier … Continue reading
Avantium to build 5 ktpa FDCA, PEF flagship plant
Avantium held its first Technology & Markets Day titled “Path to a fossil-free world” yesterday at the company’s headquarters in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The management team provided an update on the strategy of Avantium and its technologies, including the strategy for Synvina and commercialization of PEF. Avantium announced that it intends to build a cash-flow … Continue reading
BASF to exit from Synvina
Bad news today as BASF notified Avantium of its exit from their Synvina joint venture effective 15 January 2019. Avantium said it continues to disagree with BASF’s interpretation of the joint venture agreement. I am not sure what exactly they are disagreeing about (technology? timing? IPs? financing?) but as one startup CEO told me, having … Continue reading
BASF, Avantium in Synvina dispute
I hate posting this kind of news but I’m still a reporter at heart so I just hope that these two companies will resolve their issues about Synvina, the joint venture formed by BASF and Avantium. The JV aims to set up a 50 ktpa FDCA (furandicarboxylic acid) reference plant at BASF’s site in Antwerp, … Continue reading
ADM, DuPont starts FDME pilot facility
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 … Continue reading