Companies merge to give rise to cheap bio butadiene

There has been a news round the town that is Braskem and Genomatica are planning to make bio based butadiene with commercial process technology in a joint development agreement, from a feedstock that is renewable. Though the press has not come up with the details, nor have they said which feedstock will they use, but both the names are planning to work jointly on it. In the whole venture Braskem is funding for construction, operation of pilot, research and development, and would also demonstrate its production using the required process. Braskem in turn is getting special rights and as it claims to be the world’s third largest producer of butadiene, it will get exclusive rights to use the technology in America. On the other hand Genomatica will get required funds and royalties for each commercial plant. This name also has a joint venture with an Italian firm named Versalis which produce butadiene from non food mass in Europe Asia and Africa.

Michelin, rubber tire manufactures have a project called BioButterfly which is being partnered with Tereos, which is the world’s fourth largest sugar producer to produce a power packed supply of bio butadiene. It has also collaborated with Axens and IFPEN (IFP Energies nouvelles) to put forward the BioButterfly process in market, with a future thought of laying a synthetic rubber plant in France too. EUR52 million and 8 years is what is involved in this process, with IFPEN bringing its expertise and Axen its technologies. Its main aim is to lower the costs, whether production and investment, and bring out bio butadiene at competitive rates and also lay down the future of synthetic rubber in France. Tereos also has an expertise in technologies including beet and carrots and in alcohol production of second generation.

Other partnership announcements that were made are-

·        Amyris and Kuraray

·        Global Bioenergies with Synthos

·        INVISTA’s partnership with Arzeda and LanzaTech

·        Cobalt Technologies in partnership with two Asian chemical companies

·        LanzaTech and SK Innovation