Bio-based Chemical Building Blocks for a Range of End-Use Applications

The Anellotech Bio-TCat™ process safely and cost-competitively produces aromatics from non-food biomass. AnelloMate™ BTX (i.e. benzene, toluene and xylene) can be used to make a range of high volume commodity polymers, including Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Polycarbonate, Polyurethane, nylon, SBR, ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) and other polymers. In turn, these are then used to produce beverage bottles, food packaging, clothing, carpeting, automotive components, electronic components and a broad range of other products. Currently, 100% of these everyday products are made from petro-sourced BTX.
 
These markets are a substantial opportunity for Anellotech licensees. Despite strong demand from beverage companies, there is no renewable bio-paraxylene, the base feedstock for PET, commercially-available on the market today. Approximately 54 million tons of PET is manufactured globally and PET usage in beverage bottles is expected to grow over 5% per year over the next five years. Numerous large-scale Bio-TCat plants would need to be constructed just to satisfy this beverage bottling demand growth.
 
Suntory, one of the world’s leading consumer beverage companies, has partnered with Anellotech to advance the development and commercialization of cost-competitive aromatics including bio-paraxylene – the key missing component needed to make 100% bio-based PET bottles. Suntory currently uses 30% bio-based PET for its Suntory Tennensui brand of mineral water and is pursuing the development of a 100% bio-based bottle through its collaboration with Anellotech. The alliance was honored as a ‘Top 10 Innovation’ award at the 2017 Innovation for Cool Earth Forum (ICEF) in Japan.
 
Anellotech and its partners are collaborating to produce prototype samples of various benzene derivatives such as nylons, polycarbonate, styrenics polymers and linear alkyl benzene (used in laundry detergent) as well as other bio-based polymers for use in discussions with potential strategic partners, including brand owners and chemical companies.
 
Anellotech’s ability to economically create aromatics from renewable biomass will change how the industry sources these chemicals. It will enable broad adoption of the Bio-TCat process and widespread use of “green” cost-competitive bio-based BTX derivatives.