US-headed global agri-commodities processor Cargill Inc, along with French energy, transport, and environment research group IFP Energies nouvelles (IFPEN), and compatriot Axens, an IFP Group company, are joining forces to further develop and scale bio-based acrylic acid.
The collaboration leverages Cargill’s experience with bio-based materials, IFPEN’s expertise in the field of catalyst and bioprocess development, and Axens’ catalyst manufacturing and industrial scale-up design process to commercialize the Procter & Gamble (P&G) company’s lactic-to-acrylic-acid technology, which Cargill licensed in earlier this year.
More than 6 million tonnes of petro-based acrylic acid will be produced this year. By leveraging Cargill’s processing technology and IFPEN/Axens’ know-how in catalysis and scale-up, we’re aiming to produce acrylic acid from renewable sources thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50 percent, said Dr Jill Zullo, VP of Biointermediates in Cargill’s Bioindustrial business.
Since Cargill’s award-winning lactic acid technology is already commercially proven, efforts will focus on the catalyst and process development needed to convert lactic acid into bio-based acrylic acid at scale – expertise for which IFPEN and Axens are world-renowned.
We’re thrilled to be working with IFPEN and Axens. Given their mutual commitment to furthering the bioeconomy and demonstrated capabilities in catalysis and commercial scale-up, we knew they were the right partners for this important project, said Asheesh Choudhary, Global Business Development Director for Cargill’s Bioindustrial business.
Bio-based acrylic acid can be used in a variety of applications, from hygiene products to household paints, delivering more sustainable solutions on a wide range of consumer products.
We firmly believe that the combined expertise of the three partners, which includes our recognized experience in the field of bio-products, represents the strength of this project, explained Jean-Pierre Burzynski, Director of the Process Business Unit at IFPEN.
The companies are advancing the technology according to staged milestones. Although it will be several years before it is ready to be deployed at a commercial scale, test samples could be ready for potential customers sometime within the next 12 months.
We are very proud to be associated with Cargill and IFPEN to develop a solution in the field of bio-products thus bolstering Axens’ ambition to be a major player in the bio-economy. The technology was developed in P&G’s corporate laboratories and Axens is very excited to develop it to an industrial scale as this technology could have a significant impact on the marketplace, said Pierre Beccat, EVP Technology Development, and Innovation at Axens.
