New Zeon R&D unit to explore bio-based butadiene, isoprene production

Tokyo - Zeon Corp. has constructed a new research facility to develop production processes for plant?derived raw materials.

This facility will accelerate the development of biotechnology to ‘directly produce’ butadiene and isoprene from plant-derived materials, as key components of synthetic rubber.

The two-storey facility has a total floor area of 590m² and was completed in May at Zeon Chemicals Yonezawa site in Yamagata Prefecture, Zeon said 9 June.

The building features laboratories equipped with local exhaust ventilation, as well as offices and meeting rooms.

The new unit will explore both chemical reaction and biofermentation processes to convert biobased raw materials into feedstock and commercialise the technology by 2034.

The move is part of Zeon’s Stage30 medium?term business plan which targets a 42% reduction in CO2 emissions across the entire group by 2030 compared to the 2020 baseline.

The initiative is part an ongoing joint collaboration with Yokohama Rubber to develop a manufacturing technology that uses carbon recycling in the production of synthetic rubber.