A Long-term partnership agreement was signed between BioAmber and Evonik Industries for the manufacture and development of sustainable chemical catalysts from the bio-based succinic acid. GBL (gamma - butyrolactone), THF (tetrahydrofuran) and BDO (1,4- butanediol) are some the industrial chemicals which will be made from these catalysts.
Many paints, solvents, adhesives and polymers feature these chemicals. At present, the value of these goods made from petrochemicals is worth $4 billion in the global market. The leading manufacturer and developer, BioAmber makes the bio-succinic acid from a variety of feedstock, which is renewable.
In 2010, DuPont licensed the BDO hydrogenation catalyst technology to BioAmber and they have in turn made partnerships with the Center for Applied Catalysis at Seton Hall University NJ, USA and Evonik. To develop and improve this technology, a new line of BDO catalysts were developed by Evonik and BioAmber.
A production plant for Bio-succinic acid with a 350,000-liter commercial scale fermenter operates in France. The company also plans to expand its production by starting another plant by the end of 2013 in Canada. It further plans to open two more plants to increase the production by 57,000 metric tons of succinic acid and BDO by the end of 2014 by collaborating with Mitsui & Co.
The CEO of BioAmber, Jean-Francois Huc stated that they had secured expertise and other capabilities to bring BDO and THF technology rapidly to the market because of their partnership with Evonik and they were able to manufacture their catalyst needs immediately and were able to develop catalysts, which are of a new generation.
In the area of petrochemicals, industrial petrochemicals, and fine chemicals and in life sciences, Evonik leads the market in developing and producing catalysts globally, since it offers a wide range of catalysts and customer services.
Evonik Catalyst Business Lines Head and Senior Vice President, Dr. Wilfried Eul, explained that replacements for crude oil-based products are important as chemicals made from renewable feedstock and these catalysts are custom made to an individual synthesis reaction and process condition.
Evonik’s key focus is on nutrition, resource efficiency, health and globalization. The company is based in Germany and deals with specialty chemicals. It operates from over 100 countries worldwide with over 33,000 employees and had a profitable growth in the last year.
BioAmber uses its chemicals made from renewable feedstock in everyday products like personal care products, nylons, food additives and plastics. It is a next generation company with its latest technologies and developments.