Natural Plastics

BASF and Purac, a subsidiary of CSM, are establishing a joint venture for the production and sale of biobased succinic acid. The company will be called Succinity GmbH and will be operational in 2013. The establishment of Succinity GmbH is subject to filing with the relevant competition authorities. The company headquarters will be in Düsseldorf, Germany.

BASF and CSM have been conducting research under a joint development agreement on succinic acid since 2009. The complementary strengths in fermentation and downstream processing led to the development of a sustainable and highly efficient manufacturing process based on a proprietary microorganism. The bacterium used is Basfia succiniciproducens which produces succinic acid through natural processes and is capable of metabolizing a variety of renewable feedstocks into succinic acid. The new process combines high efficiency with the use of renewable raw materials and the fixation of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the production of succinic acid. This makes biobased succinic acid an economically and ecologically attractive alternative to petrochemical raw materials.

The demand for succinic acid is anticipated to grow strongly in the years ahead, driven mainly by bioplastics, chemical intermediates, solvents, polyurethanes and plasticizers. The two companies are currently modifying an existing fermentation facility, at Purac's Montmélo site near Barcelona, Spain, for the production of succinic acid. This plant, which will commence operations in late 2013 with an annual capacity of 10,000 metric tons of succinic acid, will put the new joint venture company in a leading position in the global marketplace. This is complemented by plans for a second large-scale facility with a capacity of 50,000 tons of succinic acid to enable the company to respond to the expected increase in demand. The final investment decision for this facility will be made following a successful market introduction.

"Our strategy clearly focuses on innovations for a sustainable future. Chemistry driven innovations get their clues from megatrends, such as the shift to renewable raw materials. The development of a succinic acid production process based on fermentation in cooperation with Purac is a good example of this strategy being put into practice" said Dr. Andreas Kreimeyer, Member of the Board of Executive Directors and Research Executive Director of BASF.

"CSM is developing into a leading provider of biobased ingredients and solutions. Our joint venture with BASF for the production and sale of succinic acid is a milestone in
this journey. The succinic acid project is fully in line with our strategy to develop commercially attractive biobased alternatives using renewable and sustainable resources" explained Gerard Hoetmer, Chief Executive Officer of CSM.

"Our cooperation with Purac to produce biobased succinic acid is a perfect example of how we enable our customers in many industries to develop sustainable solutions" said Sanjeev Gandhi, President, BASF Intermediates division.

"We know from many discussions with customers and samples we sent them that the demand for biobased succinic acid for a.o. biodegradable plastics is set to grow faster and more strongly than expected earlier" said Fabrizio Rampinelli, President of Purac, and added: "We look forward to providing a high-quality product globally to customers in this industry at our usual high service levels."

Source: http://www.purac.com

A team of students from the University of Manchester, UK,  has been awarded an international sustainability prize by the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) in recognition of a university design project  based on turning corn waste into succinic acid.

The seven-strong team that clinched the inaugural McNab-Lacey Student Design prize was made up of final-year students Liam Booth, Maryam Ojetola, Sarah Bickerton, Richard Gowers, Sophie Wilkinson, Vanessa Suniggi and Andrew Harrison, all of whom have now graduated from Manchester. They were mentored through their project by chemical engineering professor Colin Webb. The prize is open to final-year chemical engineering students from IChemE accredited universities across the globe, rewarding the project that best contributes to a sustainable world.

Their winning project involved designing a process for producing succinic acid from corn waste using the microorganisim Actinobacillicus succinogenes. Malcolm Wilkinson, chair of the IChemE Sustainability Special Interest Group and head of the judging panel, says that the team had “clearly taken the idea of sustainability right through the project, from the initial concept to the final design.” Wilkinson presented the team with a cheque for £700.

When asked what they had taken from the project the team explained that it had given them an appreciation of how “incredibly iterative” the design process is, and spoke of how hard – and rewarding – it is to work with a team under incredibly stressful conditions.

“If you couldn’t adapt,” they said, “you couldn’t get through it.”

Less than half of the teams vying for the award came from UK universities, with two entries coming in from Malaysia and a much-commended effort from Singapore Polytechnic clinching second place.

IChemE CEO David Brown says that he was impressed with the winning project: “ This project is a great example of how chemical engineers are leading the transition to a low carbon economy and are helping to tackle the impact of climate change. Encouraging chemical engineering students to think about this and sustainable ways of working is key to ensuring they take a similar mindset into their professional careers.”

Source: http://www.icheme.org

Showa Denko K.K (SDK) and Myriant Corporation announced today that SDK has selected Myriant as its global supplier of biosuccinic acid. Under the terms of the supply agreement, SDK will utilize Myriant’s biosuccinic acid for the production of high-performance biodegradable polybutylene succinate, or PBS, a key polymer used in the production of bioplastics.

The ever-increasing worldwide demand for more environmentally sound and cost competitive consumer products and packaging is rapidly accelerating the growth of the bioplastics industry and forecasts currently project that more than one million metric tons of bioplastics will be used by 2015. SDK is recognized globally as the inventor and producer of the industry’s best performing PBS, trademarked Bionolle®and Starcla®, a key component used in the production of bioplastic products that include biodegradable mulch films and compostable bag applications. SDK’s Bionolle family of biodegradable plastics have received numerous “green” certifications from associations across the globe including the “GreenPla” label by the Japanese BioPlastics Association (JBPA) and the “OK Compost” mark by AIB-Vincotte (AVI), the Belgian based certification and screening body, for its capacity to completely biodegrade.

“SDK’s comprehensive analysis of currently available biosuccinic acid shows that Myriant’s product is a great choice to meet our customers’ demands for high performance PBS,” said Yasushi Ichikawa,General Manager Bionolle Dept. of Showa Denko K.K. “We’re pleased to partner with the recognized world leader in biosuccinic acid production and we look forward to working with Myriant as SDK develops affordable, renewable PBS for our customers across the globe.”

“We believe it is a strong endorsement of our low-cost, feedstock-flexible technology platform that SDK, the pioneer in PBS, selected to partner with Myriant as its supplier for biosuccinic acid for the production of reliable, renewable PBS,” said Cenan Ozmeral, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Myriant.

“Myriant is setting the trajectory for success in the renewable chemicals industry by being a leader in the commercialization of affordable, high performing green chemicals, like biosuccinic acid. By securing industry leading customers, like SDK, Myriant has once again demonstrated its ability to meet both price and performance expectations,” said Stephen J. Gatto, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Myriant. “The agreement with SDK is another example of Myriant’s ability to execute on its business strategy to become the global, strategic supplier of choice for targeted high-value chemical intermediates. By leveraging Myriant’s cost advantaged and innovative technology platform, new products such as PBS can be developed to successfully compete as sustainable replacements to traditional petroleum-based products.”

About Showa Denko K.K.

Ranking as one of Japan’s leading chemical companies, Showa Denko K.K. operates in the six major segments of petrochemicals, chemicals, electronics, inorganics, aluminum, and others. The company has established leading positions in various fields, including HD media and graphite electrodes. As of December 31, 2010, Showa Denko K.K.’s consolidated subsidiaries and non-consolidated subsidiaries/affiliates to which the equity method is applied, amounted to 36 in Japan and 21 in foreign countries. And the number of employees on a consolidated basis reached 11,597. For details, please visit Showa Denko’s website at www.sdk.co.jp.
About Myriant Corporation
Myriant utilizes proprietary technology to provide innovative, performance-based renewable chemicals utilizing low-cost sugars. In December 2010, Myriant broke ground on its 30 million pound commercial succinic acid facility in Lake Providence, Louisiana. The company’s D(-) lactic acid started production at commercial scale in June 2008 for use in polylactic acid. Myriant has agreements with Uhde GmbH for engineering, Davy Process Technology for the integration of Myriant’s succinic acid process with the Davy butanediol process for the production of bio-based butanediol, and PTT Chemical for the commercialization of Myriant’s technology in South East Asia. Myriant is headquartered in Quincy, Massachusetts. Details are available at www.myriant.com.

Source: www.myriant.com

LANXESS, a global leader in phthalate‐free plasticizers and BioAmber, a leader in sustainable chemistry, have partnered to develop succinic acid based plasticizers that are both renewable and phthalate‐free. Under the terms of their joint development agreement, LANXESS and BioAmber are developing a portfolio of renewable succinic‐based plasticizers that can exceed the performance of phthalates at competitive prices.

 

The partnership leverages both companies’ strengths: LANXESS has a global commercial network that sells innovative, phthalate‐free plasticizers including MESAMOLL®, ADIMOLL®, ULTRAMOLL® and UNIMOLL®. LANXESS also has plasticizer manufacturing expertise and capacity. BioAmber produces and sells biobased succinic acid in a 3,000 MT capacity plant in France and expects to bring on an additional 17,000 MT of succinic acid capacity in 2013 at a new facility in Sarnia, Canada, located on a site within LANXESS’ Bio‐industrial Park.
BioAmber and LANXESS have been working together for over 2 years assessing the performance and opportunities of succinate based esters in the plasticizer market. Based on the results seen to date, LANXESS and BioAmber believe that succinic acid based plasticizers can deliver the sustainability, performance and safety that the global plasticizer market is seeking. Samples are now available and the companies expect to begin commercialization in 2012.

“LANXESS systematically seeks advanced technologies to enhance the value of its offering. BioAmber’s biobased succinic acid is a unique opportunity to develop a new generation of plasticizers combining full regulatory compliance with superior environmental background,” said Jorge Nogueira, Senior Vice President Business Unit Functional Chemicals.

“Our partnership with LANXESS will accelerate penetration of the global plasticizer market and secure a first mover advantage for both companies. BioAmber’s succinic acid offers a safe, sustainable alternative to phthalates and our additional plants in Sarnia and Thailand will ensure our customers have reliable, competitive supply,” said Jean‐Francois Huc, CEO of BioAmber.
About LANXESS
LANXESS is a leading specialty chemicals company with sales of EUR 7.1 billion in 2010 and currently around 15,800 employees in 30 countries. The company is at present represented at 46 production sites worldwide. The core business of LANXESS is the development, manufacturing and marketing of plastics, rubber, intermediates and specialty chemicals. LANXESS is a member of the leading sustainable indices Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) World and FTSE4Good.
About BioAmber, Inc.
BioAmber, a renewable chemistry company, is a market leader in the development and commercialization of biobased succinic acid and derivatives including 1,4 butanediol and modified PBS, a biodegradable plastic offering better heat resistance and processability than other biopolymers. BioAmber operates the world’s first dedicated biobased succinic acid plant and has partnerships with Cargill, DuPont Applied Biosciences, LANXESS, Mitsubishi Chemical, Mitsui & Co. and PTTMCC Biochem. BioAmber is also leveraging its succinic acid experience and know‐how to develop a biobased adipic acid platform. The company has offices and research labs in Minneapolis, MN, an office in Montreal, a sales office in Shanghai, China and a production plant in Pomacle, France. For more information, see www.bio‐amber.com.

BioAmber, a next-generation chemicals company, and Mitsui & Co., a leading global trading company, have partnered to build and operate the previously announced manufacturing facility in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. The initial phase of the facility is expected to have production capacity of 17,000 metric tons of biosuccinic acid and commence commercial production in 2013. The partners intend to subsequently expand capacity and produce 35,000 metric tons of succinic acid and 23,000 metric tons of 1,4 butanediol (BDO) on the site. Bioamber and Mitsui also intend to jointly build and operate two additional facilities that, together with Sarnia, will have a total cumulative capacity of 165,000 tons of succinic acid and 123,000 tons of BDO. BioAmber will be the majority shareholder in the plants.

BioAmber and Mitsui plan to build and operate a second plant in Thailand, which is projected to come on line in 2014. The partners are currently undertaking a feasibility study for the Thailand plant with PTT MCC Biochem Company Limited, a joint venture established between Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation and PTT Public Company Limited. BioAmber and Mitsui & Co. also plan to build and operate a third plant, located in either North America or Brazil, which will be similar in size to the Thailand project.

The partners are combining their respective strengths. BioAmber has developed a proprietary technology platform that combines industrial biotechnology, an innovative purification process and patented catalysts to convert renewable feedstocks into chemical that are cost effective replacements for petroleum-derived chemicals. BioAmber is currently producing and selling succinic acid at a plant in France and has proven the quality and cost competitiveness of its technology without subsidies, using commercial scale fermenters. Mitsui & Co. is one of the largest general trading companies in the world, with a broad presence in the global chemicals market. In addition to its extensive distribution capabilities and market access, Mitsui & Co. is strongly committed to the renewable chemicals industry and has secured renewable feedstock in Brazil, Thailand and other countries as part of its strategic focus on renewable chemicals. In the year ending March 31, 2011, Mitsui had total revenues of $55 billion and net income of $3.6 billion. The company has over 40,000 employees on a consolidated basis and operates 153 offices in 65 countries.

“Our goal is to play a leading role in the growth of renewable chemicals, as evidenced by our recent joint ventures with BioAmber in North America for biosuccinic acid and The Dow Chemical Company in Brazil for biochemicals,” said Masanori Ikebe, General Manager of Mitsui’s Specialty Chemicals Division. “We believe that biosuccinic acid and bio-BDO will experience rapid growth over the next decade, and BioAmber’s technology leadership is an excellent fit with Mitsui’s strength across the supply chain,” he added.
“BioAmber’s partnership with Mitsui & Co. is a strong endorsement of our technology platform,” said Jean-Francois Huc, CEO of BioAmber. “Mitsui is an ideal partner thanks to its long-term commitment to renewable chemistry, its extensive reach into chemical markets and its strategic access to sustainable feedstocks. Mitsui also has the financial strength to support our expansion and help us compete internationally,” he added.

About Mitsui & Co.
Mitsui & Co. Ltd. is one of the largest general trading companies in the world, with 153 offices in 65 countries. Utilizing these global operating locations, networks and information resources, Mitsui is multilaterally pursuing business that ranges from product sales, worldwide logistics and financing, through to the development of major international infrastructure and other projects in the following fields; Iron & Steel products, Motor Vehicles, Marine & Aerospace, Chemicals, Energy, Food & Retail, Consumer Service, Information, Electronics and Telecommunications, Financial Markets and Transportation Logistics. For more information visit: www.mitsui.co.jp/en

About BioAmber Inc.
BioAmber is a next generation chemicals company. Its proprietary technology platform combines industrial biotechnology, an innovative purification process and chemical catalysis to convert renewable feedstocks into chemicals for use in a wide variety of everyday products including plastics, food additives and personal care products. BioAmber produces bio-succinic acid in what it believes to be one of the world’s largest bio-based chemical manufacturing facilities. For more information, see www.bio-amber.com.

Myriant Corporation today announced the successful development of its proprietary process for producing targeted bio-based chemicals, including succinic acid and both L(+) and D(-) lactic acid, from non-food, renewable, cellulosic feedstocks.

“Today’s announcement is a significant step forward in our ability to continue driving the advancement and global use of cellulosic materials as the foundation for manufacturing of bio-based chemicals,” said Stephen Gatto, CEO and Chairman of Myriant Corporation. “We recognized early on that these renewable feedstocks were a critical component of the technology platform for our succinic acid and lactic acid programs.”

This development is an integral part of Myriant’s manufacturing and commercialization strategy. “We believe that Myriant’s ability to use non-food cellulosic feedstocks, as opposed to traditional food-based or petroleum-based feedstocks, gives it a critical global competitive advantage,” said Mr. Gatto. The ability to take advantage of these abundant low-cost feedstocks allows Myriant to roll out its succinic acid and lactic acid manufacturing platforms throughout the world, without being restricted to scarce availability and expensive food-based feedstocks. Furthermore, it provides stable feedstock pricing, which will enable Myriant to offer its customers long term price stability.

In 2009, Myriant was awarded $50 million from U.S. Department of Energy, which supports the company’s construction of its 30 million pound succinic acid facility in Lake Providence, Louisiana and the commercialization of its cellulosic succinic acid program. “The results achieved today testify to Myriant’s continued leadership in the manufacture of cost-effective bio-based chemical intermediates and builds off of Myriant’s core competency in industrial bio-technology,” added Mr. Gatto.

The use of cellulosic biomass, an abundant global resource, will provide a renewable feedstock manufacturing base for many next-generation, bio-derived products. The success of the biochemical industry is highly dependent on a cost-effective, high-quality, and functional supply of sustainable biomass feedstocks.

About Myriant

Myriant utilizes proprietary technology to advance the development of low-cost cellulosic sugars for the sustainable commercialization of high-value bio-based chemicals. In December 2010, Myriant broke ground on its 30 million pound commercial succinic acid facility in Lake Providence, Louisiana. The company’s D(-) lactic acid started production at commercial scale in June 2008 for use in polylactic acid. Myriant has announced agreements with Uhde GmbH for engineering, Davy Process Technology for the integration of Myriant’s succinic acid process with the Davy butanediol process for the production of bio-based butanediol, and PTT Chemical for the commercialization of Myriant’s technology in South East Asia.

Source:  www.myriant.com

BioAmber Inc., through its subsidiary Bluewater Biochemicals has selected Sarnia, Ontario, Canada as the location for its first North American biosuccinic acid plant. The Sarnia plant will have an initial capacity of 17,000 MT and will be commissioned in 2013. Permitting work for the plant was initiated in June 2011. BioAmber currently produces and sells biobased succinic acid at a 3,000 MT capacity plant in France.

Succinic acid is a renewable, non-toxic specialty chemical that can be further modified to make a wide range of products including automotive parts, biodegradable coffee cup lids and disposable cutlery, spandex, shoe soles, ingredients for food, flavors and fragrances, cosmetics, construction materials, phthalate-free plasticizers, engine coolants, salts that melt ice and snow and plastics used in various durable goods. BioAmber plans to double capacity in Sarnia by 2014 through the introduction of a next-generation yeast being developed with Cargill. BioAmber also plans to produce 1,4-Butanediol (BDO) on the site, using technology exclusively licensed from DuPont that coverts succinic acid to BDO, a chemical with a $4 billion existing market. The goal is for the Sarnia plant to produce 35,000 MT of biosuccinic and 23,000 MT of biobased BDO at its peak.
Ontario and Canadian ministries and agencies recognized BioAmber’s market leading succinic acid technology, providing the company with CAD $35 million in grants and loans to locate in Sarnia. Support was secured from the Ontario Ministry for Economic Development and Trade (MEDT), Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) and the Canadian Sustainable Chemistry Alliance. The plant’s first phase will spur substantial regional economic growth, generating 150 construction jobs and 40 full time jobs. Additional jobs are expected as capacity is increased and BDO production comes on line, and as investments are made in additional manufacturing that can transform locally produced biosuccinic acid into value added products.
“Sarnia has tremendous potential as a sustainable chemistry cluster. The unique combination of chemical infrastructure, skilled labor, educational facilities, competitive transportation costs and proximity to some of Canada’s richest agricultural land makes Sarnia an excellent choice,” said Mike Hartmann, Executive VP of BioAmber. “These provincial and federal programs have put Ontario and Canada at the forefront of sustainable development and in strong position to compete globally for foreign investment by renewable chemical and material companies. These programs were instrumental in BioAmber’s decision to invest in Ontario,” he added.

Source:  http://www.biofpr.com

BASF SE and Purac, a subsidiary of CSM nv, today announce the start of negotiations to form a joint venture for the production of bio-based succinic acid. The companies have been conducting research under a joint development agreement on bio-based succinic acid since 2009. The complementary strengths in fermentation and down-stream processing led to the development of a sustainable and highly efficient manufacturing process based on a proprietary microorganism. The demand for succinic acid is anticipated to grow strongly in the next years. Main drivers are expected to be bioplastics, chemical intermediates, solvents, polyurethanes and plasticizers.

"We are happy to bring our partnership with Purac to the next level," said Dr. Andreas Kreimeyer, Member of the Board of Executive Directors and Research Executive Director of BASF. "Until now our partnership has been very successful, and moving towards a joint venture will strengthen our goal to become the leading supplier in the succinic acid market."

"We aim to be the first commercial producer in the market with a 25,000 tons capacity fermentation production plant at the Purac site near Barcelona, Spain, with the intention to start up by 2013 at the latest," said Gerard Hoetmer, Chief Executive Officer of CSM. "In addition, we are already planning a world-scale plant with a capacity of 50,000 tons to account for the expected demand growth. This partnership has enormous potential as it leverages the combined competencies of two leading companies in their fields."

During the existing cooperation critical steps of the jointly developed production process have been validated in several successful production campaigns. The resulting volumes were used to evaluate the market. "After successfully testing the BASF in-house applications we are now able to make large volumes available for external customers," said Dr. Thomas Weber, Managing Director of BASF Future Business GmbH with regard to the recent industrial production campaign in June 2011. "The goal is to globally provide a high product quality and offer security of supply to the customers," Fabrizio Rampinelli, Managing Director of Purac, added. "Through this bio-based succinic acid collaboration we aim to add another important new growth-pillar to our bio-based polymers and green chemical business."

 

The newly developed process combines high efficiency with the use of renewable substrates and the fixation of the greenhouse gas CO2 during the production. This results in a positive eco-footprint and makes bio-based succinic acid an economically and ecologically attractive alternative to petrochemical substitutes. The employed microorganism Basfia succiniciproducens is a natural producer of succinic acid and can process a wide variety of C3, C5 and C6 renewable feedstocks, including biomass sources.

BioAmber, the market leader in biobased
succinic acid, has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with CELEXION
LLC for technology related to the production of adipic acid and other chemical
intermediates. The current market for adipic acid is close to 3 million tons per
year, worth approximately $8 billion at current market prices. 

Over the past year, BioAmber has successfully applied its breakthrough succinic
acid purification process to adipic acid. Through the licensing deal with CELEXION, BioAmber will leverage its succinic know-how, infrastructure, partnerships and customer base to accelerate the development of biobased adipic acid.  BioAmber has also established a state of the art research and development facility in Plymouth, Minnesota with capabilities in molecular biology, fermentation and analytical  chemistry to support its adipic acid program.

“CELEXION’s technology is a perfect fit for the leadership we have developed in
commercializing biobased succinic acid,” said Jean-Francois Huc, CEO of BioAmber. “CELEXION’s highly attractive metabolic pathway, coupled with our novel purification process and scale-up capabilities, gives us a clear path to biobased adipic acid that, like our biobased succinic, is lower cost and has a better environmental footprint than the current petroleum route.” 

“Renewable chemicals such as biobased adipic acid will become critical building
blocks of the future economy.  Given BioAmber’s leadership position in succinic
acid and the natural extension of their assets to adipic acid, we are very pleased
to partner with BioAmber for commercialization of our adipic acid technology,”
said Dr. Brian M. Baynes, CEO of CELEXION.

About BioAmber
BioAmber is a US registered renewable chemistry company with an extensive IP
portfolio and know-how covering the  production, purification and use of
biobased succinic acid and derivatives including modified PBS, a biodegradable
polymer with superior heat resistance  and processability.  BioAmber has the
world’s first dedicated biobased succinic acid plant and has partnerships with

About CELEXION
CELEXION LLC is a bioengineering company that develops powerful platform
technologies and products for partners in the pharmaceutical, industrial,
agricultural, and life science research  sectors.  The company’s technologies
include the SECANT platform for engineering high performance protein
products, a billion-member library of human IgG antibodies for biotherapeutic
lead generation, enzymatic pathways for  synthesis of a variety of high-value
materials from wastes and other inexpensive precursors, a novel family of
enzymes for manipulation of chromosome-sized DNA, as well as a variety of
other tools.  The company is based in Cambridge, MA, USA and financed by
Flagship Ventures and GE Healthcare Financial Services.  For further information,
please visit our website at www.celexionbio.com.
CELEXION is a registered trademark and SECANT is a pending trademark
application of Celexion LLC

Source: http://www.bio-amber.com

Via: biopol.free.fr

Myriant Technologies (Myriant) and Davy Process Technology (Davy), a Johnson Matthey company, announce that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding covering the use of succinic acid as a bio-derived feedstock for the production of butanediol, tetrahydrofuran and gamma-butyrolactone.

The MoU covers two areas of co-operation between Myriant and Davy, first the non-exclusive testing and approval of Myriant’s product succinic acid as a feedstock to the Davy process and second an exclusive Joint Development Agreement (JDA) with the purpose of integrating the Myriant bio succinic acid technology with the Davy butanediol technology to minimise the cost of recovery and purification of the succinic acid for the production of bio Butanediol. 

Myriant, a leading industrial biotechnology developer is in the process of constructing the world’s first commercial bio-based Succinic Acid plant in Lake Providence, Louisiana. 

"This agreement is an important step towards providing renewable feedstocks for 1,4 Butanediol producers and end users. Bio Succinic Acid produced by Myriant Technologies from renewable feedstocks should prove to be a valuable substitute for petroleum based maleic anhydride in the production of Butanediol. Current and future Davy Butanediol licensees will be able to take advantage of this opportunity" said Dr. Cenan Ozmeral, Chief Operating Officer of Myriant Technologies.

Davy developed its butanediol technology based on maleic anhydride feed and has licensed more than half a million tons of annual production capacity of varying mixtures of butanediol, tetrahydrofuran and gamma butyrolactone over the last 15 years.

Antoine Bordet, Managing Director of Davy Process Technology said “We have a strong belief that bio-butanediol has an important place in the butanediol and derivatives market. We look forward to working with Myriant on the integration of our two technologies which we believe will provide further benefits in the production of bio-renewable butanediol from bio-succinic acid.”

With a world-renowned team of molecular biologists, engineers and chemists, Myriant utilizes proprietary technology to advance the development of low-cost cellulosic sugars for the sustainable commercialization of high-value specialty chemicals. The company’s D(-) lactic acid started production at commercial scale in June 2008 for use in polylactic acid. Myriant is headquartered in Quincy, Massachusetts. Details are available at www.myriant.com.

Davy Process Technology, a Johnson Matthey Company, has a global business in petrochemicals technology development and technology licensing. The company has its headquarters in London and has a Technology Centre in Stockton-on-Tees. It licenses a range of proprietary process technologies such as Methanol, Fischer Tropsch, SNG, Butanediol, Detergent Alcohols, Oxo Alcohols, PTA, Industrial Amines, Ethyl Acetate and Propylene Glycol.

More information about Davy Process Technology can be found at www.davyprotech.com.

Source: www.myriant.com