16 February 2016
DETAILS
Versalis has produced bio-based rubber
using bio-butadiene from
its joint venture with Genomatica
a European producer in the polymers and elastomers industry,
and Genomatica,
a leader in bioengineering solutions,
announced today that they have successfully advanced
to pilot-scale production of
bio-butadiene (bio-BDE) from fully renewable feedstock.
Versalis used this bio-BDE to make bio-rubber, specifically,
bio-polybutadiene (bio-BR).
These accomplishments represent a remarkable milestone
for the rubber industry, by enabling
an improved technological and sustainability footprint; and
to the broader industry for butadiene,
one of the most widely-used chemicals in the world,
with over ten million tons produced per year.
Initial testing of the bio-BDE and bio-BR
demonstrates good compatibility with industry standards.
The joint venture uses
the proven and complementary strengths of both companies.
Versalis and Genomatica together determined that
1,3-butanediol (1,3-BDO)
was the most suitable intermediate to produce bio-BDE.
Genomatica applied its ‘whole-process’ systems approach
to bioengineering to develop a microorganism
that produces 1,3-BDO in a way that enables
cost-efficient, scalable fermentation, recovery
and subsequent process operations.
Versalis leverages its industrial process engineering
and catalysis capabilities, plus expertise
in overall polymer production, to purify the 1,3-BDO,
dehydrate it and then purify the resulting butadiene.
Versalis has produced several kilograms of butadiene from
1,3-BDO made in 200 liter fermenters
at their research centers at Novara and Mantova, and
then made bio-polybutadiene, at the Ravenna R&D centre,
using both anionic and Ziegler-Natta catalysis.
Versalis is continuing to test the bio-BDE
within its other proprietary rubber and plastics
downstream technologies such as
SBR (Styrene-Butadiene Rubber),
SBS (Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene Rubber) and
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene-Styrene).
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