11 December 2014
Details
Braskem and Genomatica
announced an agreement for the joint development of
commercial process technology to make
bio-based butadiene
from renewable feedstocks.
Braskem is the world’s leading producer of biopolymers and
the world’s third largest producer of butadiene.
Under the agreement,
Braskem anticipates providing significant funding of
Genomatica’s development work over several years;
will allocate significant Braskem R&D resources;
and fund the construction and operation of pilot and
demonstration-scale butadiene production plants
using the process.
In return, Braskem will receive certain exclusive license rights
to use the resulting process technology in the Americas.
Genomatica will also receive fees and royalties
for each licensed commercial plant.
Genomatica
Christophe Schilling, Ph.D., CEO of Genomatica.
“Braskem’s leadership in biopolymers and
understanding of the potential of biotechnology
make them a natural partner for Genomatica,”
“Our partnership brings the industry closer to
commercializing a more sustainable and
cost-predictable butadiene.”
Braskem
Alexandre Elias, director of renewable chemicals at Braskem.
“ Braskem has a clear strategy for investing in
the research and development of
renewable based chemical technologies as alternatives
to complement our current product portfolio
based on petrochemicals.
In 2012, we became the world leader in Biopolymers
when we announced
the production of plastic made from sugarcane,
and we are now further reinforcing this vision,"
Significance: strategic alternative for huge market
Butadiene,
with a worldwide market demand of
over 20 billion pounds per year,
is a raw material used in
the production of rubber for tires, electrical appliances,
footwear, plastics, asphalt modifiers,
additives for lubricating oil, pipes,
building components, and latex.
The supply of butadiene,
an important ‘C4’ chemical,
has been decreasing due
* to a long-term shift to natural gas
at petrochemical ‘cracking’ plants,
* and a scarcity of dedicated,
‘on-purpose’ production processes and facilities.
This has resulted in substantial pricing volatility,
which in turn impacts butadiene-based products,
including tires.
The butadiene process being developed by
Genomatica and Braskem is expected to provide
an economically competitive and
environmentally-friendlier alternative,
while providing a strategic alternative to
the use of petroleum-based feedstocks.
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