European Chemical Industry News & Insights

Lanxess Converts 20 Tons of Bio-based BDO into PBT at Commercial Scale

At a glance
  • Lanxess used 20 metric tons of bio-based BDO in their PBT production plant.
  • The PBT plant has a capacity of 80,000 tons per year and is located in Hamm-Uentrop, Germany.
  • Genomatica's BDO process converts renewable sugars into BDO via a patented fermentation process.
  • The bio-based PBT produced is equivalent in quality to petro-based PBT.

Production Campaign

Lanxess has successfully conducted a production campaign of bio-based PBT at their world-scale plant in Hamm-Uentrop, Germany. The campaign utilized 20 metric tons of bio-based BDO produced using Genomatica’s process, which met all Lanxess specifications for petro-based BDO.

Plant Capacity and Location

The PBT plant, operated as a joint venture with Lanxess holding a 50% share, has an annual capacity of 80,000 tons. The facility is located in Hamm-Uentrop, Germany.

Genomatica’s BDO Process

Genomatica’s technology converts renewable sugars into BDO through a patented, direct fermentation process. This bio-based BDO can replace petro-based BDO without compromising quality.

Quality and Applications

The bio-based PBT produced is equivalent in quality to conventional petro-based PBT. It can be used in established applications such as automotive and electronics, aligning with Lanxess' 'Green Mobility' strategy.