CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY, CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT
Carbios | January 17, 2023
Carbios, a leading green chemistry firm, and Novozymes, a global leader in biological solutions, have recently announced an exclusive long-term global strategic partnership. This agreement ensures the long-term production and supply of Carbios' patented PET-degrading enzymes on a commercial scale for the first biological PET-recycling plant in the world, which is scheduled to begin production in 2025 in Longlaville, France, as well as Carbios' future licensee customers.
Since 2019, Carbios and Novozymes have partnered to produce enzyme-based solutions and address the sustainability challenge of plastic pollution on the environment, both in PET-recycling and PLA-biodegradation. Building on the present joint development agreement (JDA), under the new contract, the deal will see Carbios and Novozymes extend their collaborative efforts to develop, optimize, and produce enzymes that Novozymes will subsequently deliver to all licensees of Carbios' technology. In addition, the new agreement gives both parties exclusive rights in the partnership's field.
The strategic partnership assists the large-scale industrial deployment of Carbios' patented PET-recycling technology, beginning with its upcoming industrial reference unit in Longlaville, France, which will be the world's first biological PET-recycling plant. While the Building and operating permits have been filed with the local authorities, and construction will commence later this year. The plant's production is scheduled to begin in 2025, with a processing capacity of 50,000 tonnes of waste per year.
About Carbios
Established in 2011, Carbios SA is a green chemistry firm focused on discovering and developing enzymatic bioprocesses applied to plastic and textile polymers. The company develops a new generation of entirely biodegradable plastics with a controllable lifespan, as well as a technique that allows for endless biorecycling of plastic waste (PET) and a new biological pathway for the manufacturing of competitive bio-sourced polymers. By using its unique approach of merging enzymes and polymers, it wants to address changing consumer expectations and the problems of a broad ecological shift by tackling a significant challenge of our time: plastic and textile pollution.
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CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT, PRODUCTS AND TECHNOLOGIES
NextDecade Corporation | January 20, 2023
On January 19, 2023, NextDecade Corporation, a liquefied natural gas (LNG) development company committed on LNG associated pipelines and export projects, announced signing a 15-year-long sale and purchase agreement with Itochu Corporation for supplying liquefied natural gas (LNG) from NextDecade's Rio Grande LNG export project based in Brownsville, Texas.
Under the terms of the sale and purchase agreement, ITOCHU Corporation will purchase 1.0 million tonnes per annum (MPA) of LNG on a free-on-board basis, indexed to Henry Hub. ITOCHU Corporation, a leading sogo shosha, engages in import/export, domestic trading, and overseas trading of various products such as machinery, textile, chemicals, metals, minerals, energy, and others.
NextDecade's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Matt Schatzman, said, "We are honored to have Itochu Corporation as our first Japanese customer." He also stated, "We look forward to providing Itochu and their customers with LNG, and we are actively working to reduce the carbon footprint of the Rio Grande LNG facility through our proposed carbon capture and storage project."
(Source – Business Wire)
NextDecade aims for a favorable Final Investment Decision (FID) on the initial three trains of the Rio Grande LNG export project in the first quarter of 2023, with FIDs on the other trains to follow after that.
About NextDecade Corporation
Headquartered in Houston, Texas, NextDecade Corporation is an energy corporation expediting the arrival of a future with no net carbon emissions. NextDecade is dedicated to providing the world with cleaner energy with its innovative solutions for more sustainable LNG and carbon capture. Through its wholly-owned subsidiaries NEXT Carbon Solutions and Rio Grande LNG, the organization is developing a 27 MTPA LNG export plant in South Texas as well as one of North America's largest carbon capture and storage projects. It is also working with third-party clients throughout the world to deploy its exclusive processes to reduce CO2 emissions and lower the cost of carbon capture and storage at its industrial-scale facilities.
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CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY, CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT
Origin Materials, Inc. and Avantium | February 24, 2023
Origin Materials, Inc. and Avantium N.V. have announced a partnership to speed up the large-scale production of FDCA and PEF. Origin Materials is a global leader in carbon-negative materials, focused on driving the world's shift towards sustainable materials. At the same time, Avantium is a prominent technology company in renewable chemistry. The partnership aims to develop these materials in advanced chemicals and plastics.
Through the partnership, Origin's patented carbon-negative technology platform, which transforms carbon from sustainable wood waste into valuable materials such as chloromethyl furfural (CMF), will be combined with Avantium's YXY® Technology. The latter technology can convert CMF derivatives into FDCA, the key chemical component of PEF, with excellent unit economics. This collaboration aims to leverage the strengths of both companies to accelerate the production of sustainable materials.
The partnership could revolutionize the commercialization of PEF, a low-carbon and cost-effective polymer with excellent sustainability and performance properties. PEF has high barrier properties, making it ideal for packaging applications. It is expected to be made entirely from plant-based materials, fully recyclable, and with a significantly reduced carbon footprint compared to traditional petroleum-based materials. Additionally, PEF is expected to offer superior strength and thermal properties, making it an attractive alternative to existing materials.
As per the agreement, Avantium received an initial payment of €5 million in 2022 and, upon signing the licensing agreement, will receive an additional €7.5 million. There is also the possibility of further payments based on the completion of specific developmental milestones. In addition, Origin plans to integrate Avantium's process technology into its supply chain for future plants.
About Origin Materials, Inc.
Origin Materials is a US-based company that develops sustainable and cost-competitive advanced materials from renewable resources. The company's core focus is developing and commercializing innovative processes for producing bio-based chemicals and materials, replacing petroleum-based products in various applications. Founded in 2008 and headquartered in West Sacramento, California, Origin Materials has partnerships with global brands such as Nestlé, Danone, and Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation. The company also has strategic partnerships with companies such as BASF and Mitsubishi Gas Chemical, which helps to expand the market for its sustainable products.
About Avantium
Avantium is a Dutch-based company that develops and commercializes innovative technologies for producing sustainable materials and chemicals. The company focuses on creating bio-based materials that can replace traditional petroleum-based products, thus reducing the carbon footprint of various industries. Avantium was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The company partners with global brands such as Coca-Cola, Danone, and Toyobo. It has received recognition for its innovative solutions, including the 2020 European Bio-based Material of the Year award for its PEF material.
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