During a “technology and markets day” event, Dutch biotechnology company Avantium NV has announced its update on the scale-up policy after taking full ownership of the Synvina bioplastics business, and the commercialization of PEF, a 100% renewable and fully recyclable polymer.
Avantium develops novel technologies based on renewable carbon sources as an alternative to fossilbased chemicals and plastics. Next to developing and commercializing renewable chemistry technologies, the company also provides advanced catalysis R&D services and systems to customers in the refinery and chemical industries. The company currently has three technologies at pilot and demonstration phase.
The most advanced technology is the YXY® plant-to-plastics–process that catalytically converts plantbased sugars into a wide range of chemicals and plastics, such as PEF (polyethylene furanoate). Avantium has successfully demonstrated the YXY Technology at its pilot plant in Geleen, the Netherlands. The second technology is the Dawn Technology™ that converts non-food biomass into industrial sugars and lignin in order to transition the chemicals and materials industries to non-fossil resources. In 2018, Avantium opened the DAWN pilot plant in Delfzijl, the Netherlands. The third technology is called Mekong and catalytically converts industrial sugars to plant-based MEG (monoethylene glycol). Avantium is currently building a new demonstration plant for Mekong with an opening planned in Delfzijl by the end of the year.
Revised Scale-up and Market Launch Strategy PEF
In January 2019, Avantium acquired 100% ownership of Synvina, creating new avenues for commercializing the YXY technology. Avantium has explored different scenarios with potential partners and customers to redefine the commercialization strategy of PEF that meets both market and capital requirements. This has led to a revised scale-up and market launch strategy for this novel plant-toplastics technology:
> Avantium intends to build a cash-flow positive flagship plant with a planned annual capacity of 5 kilotons of FDCA and PEF.
> The plant will produce products for high-value markets and performance applications such as high-barrier films and specialty bottles
> Avantium maintains control of flagship and licensing business of YXY, while building a network of committed partners throughout the value chain
> The flagship plant is slated to start up in 2023:
> The design of a 5 kiloton flagship plant has commenced with leading engineering services company Worley (formerly Jacobs Engineering) commissioned to execute the detailed engineering studies
> Site selection in northwestern continental Europe is to be completed in the second half of 2019
> The investment decision for construction of the flagship plant is planned for the end of 2020
> Synvina business unit is renamed Avantium Renewable Polymers and operates under the Avantium brand.
Tom van Aken, CEO Avantium: “We strongly believe in our YXY technology and the unique properties
of PEF and are steadfastly moving towards commercialization. With our full ownership of the YXY
Technology, we have now revised our scale-up and market launch strategy for PEF in a way that meets
both market and capital requirements.”
Source: Avantium
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