Axens, IFPEN and Michelin join forces on synthetic rubber production

ERJ staff report (TP)

Paris − Axens, IFP Energies nouvelles (IFPEN) and Michelin have announced the launch of a plant chemistry research partnership that aims to develop and bring to market a process for producing bio-sourced butadiene, or bio-butadiene, reported Your Renewable News.

In response to the need to find sustainable alternative sourcing channels for elastomers, the BioButterfly process will make it possible to produce innovative, more environmentally-friendly synthetic rubber.

BioButterfly pools the strengths and skills of three key research and industry players: Axens, IFPEN and Michelin. In addition to developing an innovative bio-butadiene production process, the partners are also committed to laying the groundwork for a future bio-sourced synthetic rubber industry in France.

BioButterfly covers all research and development phases in the process – from scientific concepts, to the pilot phase and validation on an industrial demonstrator – by leveraging the three partners’ complementary skills and expertise.

BioButterfly is backed by a €52m budget extending over eight years. The project was selected by France's Agency for the Environment and Energy Management (ADEME) to receive €14.7m in financing as part of the Investing in the Future program.

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Full story from Your Renewable News