US-based bio-fuel manufacturer Virent has collaborated with petroleum alternatives licensor Renmatix to convert affordable cellulosic sugars to renewable chemicals and bio-based packaging materials.
Under the partnership, Renmatix will analyze its Plantrose platform and improve it to offer an affordable sugar stream for Virent's bioforming process for the production of bio-based paraxylene.
Paraxylene is used in the manufacture of purified terephthalic acid (PTA), which is made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and is an important chemical in the production of plastic bottles and fibers.
Plantrose platform controls supercritical hydrolysis to convert a range of renewable global feedstocks into the bio-based building blocks.
The blocks can be used in everyday products such as paints, diapers, laundry detergent, or bottles and other types of plastic packaging.
Renmatix CEO Mike Hamilton said products derived from renewable resources are in demand that is driving change across conventional value chains.
"Working with the right partners, like Virent, on the common goal of providing scalable solutions with affordable economics, we are pioneering the bio-based value chains that can meet those needs," Hamilton added.
According to Virent, integrating local feedstock processing with on-site commercial production will lower costs and increase the possibility of using renewable chemicals in bio-based packaging and plastics.
