Kraton completes $35m investment at US biorefinery

Houston, Texas – Kraton Corp. has recently completed a $35-million (€33 million) upgrade of the crude tall oil (CTO) biorefinery towers at its Panama City, Florida site.

Kraton's bio-refinery processes CTO – a by-product of pine wood pulping in paper mills – into four different fractions: tall oil fatty acid, tall oil rosin, distilled tall oil and pitch.

These fractions are further processed into bio-based chemicals, including terpenes, which can used in tire tread enhancement additives or tackifying resins.

“Our upgraded towers will ensure Kraton continues delivering the highest quality and sustainable bio-based products,” claimed Edgar Baena, VP of global operations, Kraton Pine Chemicals.