16 Feb 2016
Milan, Italy and San Diego, California – Italian polymer manufacturer Versalis, US-based bio-engineering firm Genomatica, have advanced to pilot-scale production of bio-butadiene (bio-BDE) from renewable feedstock, the two companies announced 16 Feb.
In this new process, butadiene is produced using “various types of sugars as feedstock, rather than the traditional use of hydrocarbon feedstocks.”
The two companies started the project in early 2013, setting up a Versalis majority-owned joint venture.
The JV, said the statement, intends to license the resulting technology from the newly-developed process.
Versalis and Genomatica have determined that 1,3-butanediol (1,3-BDO) was the most suitable intermediate to produce bio-BDE.
“Initial testing of the bio-BDE and bio-BR demonstrates good compatibility with industry standards,” said Versalis.
The company plans to continue testing the bio-BDE with other polymers, including SBR (styrene-butadiene rubber), SBS (styrene-butadiene-styrene rubber) and ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene-styrene).
Subscribe for unlimited access. A subscription to European Rubber Journal includes:
Already a subscriber? Log in here
