BioAmber starts to commission the Sarnia Commercial Plant

One of the leading industrial biotechnology companies on international level, BioAmber Inc. made an announcement for beginning of commissioning the bio-succinic acid plant situated in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. The plant bears 30K MT capacity; start up of the plant may take about five months with the service of commercial operation. The project costs US$125 million as per an approximate budget +/- 10 percent.

Read more about the news here - http://www.bioplasticsmagazine.com/en/news/meldungen/20150304-BioAmber-commissioning-Sarnia-plant.php

The Company expects construction to be completed in two months and it is carrying out commissioning and start-up activities in parallel. The cost of the project continues to track within the original budget estimate of US$125 million +/- 10%. CEO of the company, Jean-Francois states that this is an important step for BioAmber that will start a period of swift growth. Further he adds that the commissioning phase will involve testing of the plant and start up of sales of products in order to meet goals. During this period, the company will also plan seeking reliable customers for take-or-pay contracts.

This new plant in Sarnia will become the biggest manufacturing unit of succinic acid of the world. The company has signed multiple supply agreements with non binding volume commitments increasing the capacity of the plant.

Pioneering efforts of CAC in sugarcane fossils to improve bioplastics production

It has been the continuous rise in the demands of bioplastics and bioproducts that has compelled the leading industries and companies to enter into the evolving market of fossil-based production. The emphasis has been put on the sugarcane production which is being seen in a much-larger perspective than just getting sugar as the end product.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/bacolod/opinion/2014/11/28/sanchez-sugarcane-bioplastics-379052 mentions that steps are being taken by CAC to sign MOA with different universities to boost the research work and technical development to bring more bioplastics on the market floor. At the same time, the company is also willing to get hands on more sugarcane mills and industries in Philippines that can further improve the production of sugarcane.


There is no denying the fact that South East Asian countries, notably Thailand is the current leader in the production and marketing of bioplastics, quickly followed by Latin America. Since consumers are looking for more bioplastics options in different fields due to increased environmental awareness, time is ripe to invest into research work, technology and improved production of bioplastics.


Rather than taking refined sugar as the final output, sugarcane industry can play a greater role in the bioplastics research and production which has been underlined at http://www.sunstar.com.ph/bacolod/opinion/2014/11/28/sanchez-sugarcane-bioplastics-379052. Thailand boasts of more than 30 manufacturers of bioplastics, with investments of millions of dollars still in the pipeline. Detailed utilization of bioplastics has been greatly pioneered by Japan through Biomass Nippon Strategy and Biotechnology Strategic Scheme launched recently to overcome the effects of traditional plastics.

Corbion Purac announced to set up a new PLA production plant with the investment of EUR 60 million capex

Corbion Purac is known well all over in the world for it’s active participation in innovative biotechnological strategies. Recently, the company has represented one more example to show its thirst to stretch chances in Biotechnology arena. With the announcement of its intention of developing a 75kTpa PLA production plant, the company is planning to set up its new venture in the field of PLA production. That’s how; the company will introduce new biodegradation solutions to the plastic industry, raising the efficiency of PLA production through the new plant. With this planning revealed by the company, a rough idea about the business strategy of the company for coming 3-4 years has been highlighted.

Read more about this deal here at – http://www.4-traders.com/CORBION-14683517/news/Corbion--Purac-intends-to-construct-a-75kTpa-PLA-production-plant-19311101/"http://www.4-traders.com/CORBION-14683517/news/Corbion--Purac-intends-to-construct-a-75kTpa-PLA-production-plant-19311101/

According to the statement of Tjerk de Ruiter, CEO of the company, our strategy is based upon the day by day increasing demand of PLA that can strengthen our position in the international market. As the company is good for its high heat technology, market demand and availability of lactic acid, it can be directed forward to become a PLA producer from lactide supplier. The estimated investment for the new PLA plant is EUR 60 million capex in Thailand. Company now requires suitable strategic alliances to promote the PLA growth strategy.

Meredian Changes Its Executive Team

Meridian Inc., MHG, the private biopolymer developer is working to get some significant expansion. The PHA of this company achieved a lot with affirmative scale of production by Tata and Lyle; also, the products of the company are certified by FDA for biodegradability. Now the company is planning to change its executive group.
Now, Paul Pereira is the CEO and executive chairman to the Board of Directors who will also handle global prominence of the company. Dr. Isao Noda will handle scientific research operations being the Chief Science Officer and Senior Vice President of Innovations.

Read more about the new executive team of Meridian here at – http://green.tmcnet.com/news/2014/08/26/7987714.htm

Pereira has worked earlier for the company as Executive Chairman to the Board of Directors for DaniMer and Meridian both; his main responsibility is to offer leadership and guidance. Apart from this, he handles entrepreneurship on international level in various industries such as transportation, telecommunication, biotechnology and manufacturing. Dr. Noda is one of the world renowned scientists who bring great deal of knowledge and expertise in polymer science. He is a working for strengthening the position of Meridian in the direction of commercialization and elaboration. 

The bioplastics developed by Meridian are fully biodegradable in soil, water and compost within 3 to 4 months.

BioAmber and Vinmar international to sign 15 year contract on succinic acid

BioAmber declared today to sign up a take or pay contract of 210,000 per year with Vinmar International. The leading industrial biotechnology company signed this contract for biosuccinic acid under rules of 15 year agreement. According to the contract, the joint venture of Mitsui & Co. and BioAmber, BioAmber Sarnia commits to sell 10K tons of succinic acid per annum through the 30,000 ton per year capacity while Vinmar commits to purchase the same. This 15 year agreement of production and sales of succinic acid is based upon the under constructed plant in Sarnia which will offer production facilities to BioAmber.

Read more on this matter here at -  http://www.cbs8.com/story/25958659/bioamber-signs-take-or-pay-contract-for-three-bio-succinic-acid-plants

The under constructed plant for the production of biosuccinic acid is the part of this master take off agreement  which will undergo expansion up to annual capacity of 70K ton of bio-succinic acid and100K tons of bio BDO. Alternatively, Vinmar can secure extra bio-succinic acid tonnage under the take-or-pay contract in case BioAmber does not commits rest of the volume at the time financing of the plant becomes secured.

In the projected plant for biosuccinic acid, Vinmar plans to invest 10 percent of the equity; BioAmber expects to start the plant till 2020on the basis of projected development of the succinic acid industry.

Braskem begins new R&D center for renewables

Braskem SA of Brazil is one of the leading thermoplastic resin developers in America; this group is also known as the largest biopolymer manufacturer on international level. This group is again in discussion for launching a research program on renewable chemical products during the first week of June, 2014.  Total fund available for this project this year is $ 13.3 million. Sao Paulo state in Campinos will focus upon chemistry and biotechnology based operations to research upon renewable chemical materials. Development of biochemical and chemical routes, purification systems is applicable on industrial level.

Read more on this matter here at - http://www.plasticsnews.com/article/20140610/NEWS/140619993/braskem-opens-new-rd-center-focused-on-renewables#

As the company is experienced in production of low, high and linear low density polyethylene ethanol since Sep, 2010, it is working well upon the investment of $ 88.9 million for innovation and research of projects this year. Certain main projects of the company involve technologies for manufacturing of biobased butadiene and propylene. With the help of micro-organism metabolic and technological improvements, the company plans better for the production of ethylene as a raw material. The whole new lab for this purpose in Braskem has been featured with HTS, an advance automated robot which is capable of multiplying the job of researcher well.

Verdezyne Achieves Key Production Landmark

Verdezyne, Inc. is has recently declared that it is capable of manufacturing over a metric ton of bio based DDDA (dodecanedioic acid) through yeast formation and downstream processing. The company is known well as a private industrial biotech firm working on production of non renewable Verdezyne chemicals. According to the information given in http://greenchemicalsblog.com/2014/04/23/verdezyne-reaches-key-production-milestone/ the company is looking for the way to association with MBI (Michigan Biotechnology Institute) and MSU (Michigan State University) for carrying out the production of DDDA process up to 4K liter scale. This manufacturing process is enough to evaluate scalability of the company and its efficiency for developing polymer class material for customers.

DDDA is a kind of chemical to be applied for the production of nylon, lubricants, powder coatings, adhesives and molding resins. The product is conventionally developed from petroleum based butadiene through a chemical process following multiple steps. Apart from the above mentioned uses of DDDA, the chemical is used as fishing line, fuel lines and bristles of brushes. Apart from Verdezyne, Invista, Evonik and Ube are well known producers of dodecanedioic acid. There is no lack of the firms to undertake analysis of DDDA development for a progressive approach and assurance of great contribution in the world of bio based chemical.

Biotechnology in commercial front with new Coca-cola R&D venture

To accelerate the development of PET bottles totally made out of plant, the Coca-Cola Company declared a partnership worth multi-million dollar with different biotechnology companies. Upholding the industry's recycle requirement, Coca-Cola Company made this partnership with Virent, Gevo and Avantium to produce 100% environment friendly pet bottles. This partnership will encourage biotechnology companies from all over the world to come up with technologies that can replace typical plastic material that vastly used for packaging.

Currently available first generation Plantbottle in the market from the time of introduction in 2009 has 30% biobased material. With a mixture of 30% mono-ethylene glycol made of 100% biobased material and 70% of pure terephthalic acid as source material (http://www.packagedesignmag.com/content/coke-seeds-path-a-100-plant-based-bottle), these bottles meets the industry requirement for recyclability. With 10 billion plantbottle sold in the earth from 2009, Coca-cola estimates over 100,000 metric ton CO2 emission equivalent carbon footprint drop-off. Intended bottles made out of 100% biobased material will help Coca-cola in uplifting ecological footprint of products.

VP of Coca-Cola Company Rick Frazier explains the significance of this research and development related investment to bring bio-based material from libratory in large scale commercial packaging. As a environmental responsibility, Coca-cola company hopes to use total plant-base materials for packaging requirement with the help of Virent, Gevo and Avantium.

BioAmber discusses personal care improvement via biochemicals at ICDC

ICDC which was held on 26-27 November saw presenters coming together for a great discussion on bio chemicals. The presenters included Evonik and Celanese and Huntsman from the global front, and rest from India which included Tata Chemicals Ltd., Reliance Industries and KLJ Plasticizers. Intermediate and Specialty Resins were in focus, Tecnon OrbiChem provided and industrial outlook on the derivatives of global chemicals the Institute of Chemical Technology of India provided a futuristic view on the chemical industries in India.

Bio based chemicals have benefits, and are better than petroleum products-

1)      BioAmber’s succinic acid has a lot of potential

2)      Carbon footprint is reduced

3)      Stable pricing of the bio feedstock

Succinic acid will be produced more by BioAmber, in Canada and Sarnia for scheduled completion in 2014.

BioAmber- one of the leading chemical industries, it has innovative idea regarding chemical catalysis, its purification and combining of industrial biotechnology. It uses biodegradable feedstock to produce certain chemicals and products that we use everyday like plastic, personal care products and food additives. It is one of the leading producers of succinic acid. This is what the future of bio chemical industries is where feed stock will play a very important role especially in the industrial sector.

Source of information- http://www.specialchem4cosmetics.com/services/news.aspx?id=10669

LanzaTech signed partnership contract with Evonik for specialty plastics and syngas

Two leading companies in the biotechnology field, namely LanzaTech and Evonik have signed a cooperation deal with each for three years which will be about the production of specialty plastics that are often waste-derived from synthesis gas. In fact, this treaty is being seen as the excellent combination of biotechnology platforms of Evonik with that of gas fermentation expertise and synthetic biology of LanzaTech. Agricultural residues, municipal solid waste and forestry wastes are the main sources of synthetic gases which comprise of carbon dioxide or monoxide and hydrogen. Microorganisms present in fermenters will simply covert syngas into fuels and other chemical products. On the other hand, LanzaTech has also gone for the partnership with Concord Blue USA whose incineration process will be used to produce syngas from waste biomass.

All the partnerships mentioned above will give LanzaTech an opportunity to derive maximum benefits from the sales and increasing demands of bio-based fuels, chemical products and specialty products. As per the reports of http://greenchemicalsblog.com/2013/12/20/evonik-lanzatech-bio-based-chems-activities/, Evonik has been successful in producing 2-HIBA which acts as precursor for the production of PLEXIGLAS and MMA, Methyl Methacrylate. It should be noted here that Plexiglas finds its uses in creation of soundproof walls, sheets, roofs, profiles and many other illuminating units of TV and monitors. Evonik is also targeting in investing millions of dollars in the business expansion of Biolys fermentation-based L-lysine plants in Russia and Brazil for increased lysine production.