Dutch technology supplier Avantium is partnering with SCG Chemicals Public Company Limited ("SCGC"), an integrated chemical player in Asia. Together, they will further develop and scale up CO2-based polymers to a pilot plant with an indicative capacity of 10 tonnes per year.
Avantium is a forerunner in developing and commercialising innovative technologies for the production of chemicals and materials based on sustainable carbon feedstock. That is, carbon from plants or carbon from the air (CO2). One of Avantium's innovative technology platforms, called Volta Technology, uses electrochemistry to convert CO2 into high-value products and chemical building blocks, including glycolic acid. By combining glycolic acid with lactic acid, Avantium can produce polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA). This is a carbon-negative polymer with valuable properties. It has an excellent barrier to oxygen and moisture, has good mechanical properties, is recyclable and is both home compostable and biodegradable in the sea. This makes PLGA a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative to non-degradable fossil-based polymers, for example.
Scaling up to pilot plant
Since early 2023, Avantium and SCGC have been working together to further evaluate PLGA. To this end, Avantium produced samples of several PLGAs. These were then evaluated by SCGC at SCGC's Norner AS facility. The two parties have now agreed to take the next step in their collaboration. They are doing this by signing a Joint Development Agreement. Under this agreement, Avantium and SCGC intend to further evaluate PLGA and then scale up production of glycolic acid monomer and PLGA polyester to a pilot plant over the next two years.
Reduced CO2 emissions
Dr Suracha Udomsak is Chief Innovation Officer and Executive Vice President at SCGC. He explains, "SCGC aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2030. To achieve this, we are not only looking at recycling and reducing plastic use. We are also investing in innovative sustainable solutions. In recent months, SCGC has been assessing PLGA samples. We are impressed by the durability and performance characteristics of this innovative material. We look forward to working with Avantium in the coming years."
To the next commercialisation phase
"We are delighted to have entered into this partnership with SCGC. It is a partner that understands that innovation and bold action is the key to making a lasting positive impact for a sustainable future. Under this partnership, we can further develop the promising carbon-negative plastic PLGA and take this material to the next commercialisation stage. Both Avantium and SCGC would also welcome other strategic and complementary partners to join this collaboration," said Tom van Aken, CEO of Avantium.
YXY Technology
As a technology development company, Avantium has already achieved a number of milestones. The company’s most advanced technology is YXY Technology, which catalytically converts sugars of
catalytically converts plant-based sugars into FDCA (furan dicarboxylic acid), the key building block for
the sustainable plastic PEF (polyethylene furanate). Avantium has successfully demonstrated the YXY Technology
successfully demonstrated the YXY Technology at its pilot plant in Geleen, the Netherlands, and has begun construction of
the world’s first commercial FDCA plant in 2022, with large-scale production of
PEF in 2024. AmBev’s soft drinks portfolio, amongst others, will source PEF from Avantium.
Demonstration plant Delfzijl
Another of Avantium's special technologies is Ray Technology. It catalytically converts industrial sugars into plant MEG (monoethylene glycol) and plant MPG (monopropylene glycol): plantMEG and plantMPG. Avantium is scaling up its Ray Technology and the demonstration plant in Delfzijl, Netherlands is slated to open in November 2019.
R&D solutions
Avantium also provides R&D solutions in the field of sustainable chemistry and is a provider of advanced catalyst testing technology and services to accelerate catalyst R&D. The company collaborates with like-minded companies around the world to create revolutionary sustainable chemical solutions, from invention to commercial scale.
Photo: Avantium
