Chemical giants frequently work out bio-based materials projects recently

Since the beginning of this year, with continuous breakthroughs in the research and development of bio-based material technology worldwide, the world has again ignited investment enthusiasm in the field. Insiders pointed out that although the bio-based materials industry has begun to move from the laboratory to the market, whether or not it can break the bottleneck in the long run and play an important role in the chemical industry is still unknown.

Some chemical giants have recently started to build bio-based materials projects. It is understood that Vincente, a subsidiary of Belgium's Solvay company, has recently started trial operation of a 100,000-ton/year bio-based epichlorohydrin plant in Mata, Thailand. The project refines glycerol, a by-product of biofuels, from plant oils and fats. For raw materials. Avantium in the Netherlands and Danone in France are collaborating on the development of renewable high-foam insulation bottles made of polyethylene, which will be used in Danone’s bottled water business worldwide. Other products include bio-based polymers such as polylactic acid, polyethylene, and polyethylene terephthalate, as well as some biochemical chemicals such as butanediol, acrylic acid, adipic acid, and succinic acid.

Advances in various types of investment demand and commercialization have promoted technological innovation in the field of bio-based materials and chemicals, opening up a breakthrough for financing and access to markets. However, some people in the industry believe that, whether it is from cost considerations or from a broader view of the value of green environmental protection, this does not mean that the bio-based materials and chemicals industry has achieved long-term success.

Ronibum, chairman of the Netherlands Biorenewable Business Platform, said: "There is no doubt that customers' demand for bio-based chemicals will exceed supply for some time." He pointed out that some companies will be the first to introduce biodegradable packaging materials. Due to cost considerations, other companies will choose to enter this field only when the market is relatively mature and stable. Therefore, the recent production of bio-based materials cannot fully meet the potential market growth. This situation can keep bio-based materials at a stable high price in the market.

The issue of raw material supply and logistics has always been a bottleneck for the breakthrough in the development of the bio-based chemical industry. In general, the production of bio-based materials in sugarcane, palm oil and corn, especially in Brazil, parts of Asia and North America, does not require much consideration of logistics issues. However, in Europe and other regions, raw materials are relatively dispersed. In this case, it is very difficult to transport a large amount of low-density biomass. At present, the production scale of the demonstration project is not too difficult for tens of thousands of tons/year for service. Once the production scale reaches commercialization of several hundred thousand tons/year, the challenges in procurement and logistics will be met. Can not be ignored.

Ilan Brookinge, a specialist in technology and sustainable development, said that even if the government treats bio-based materials as a substitute for petrochemical raw materials, it will be ambitious to prepare for this in Europe due to difficulties in procurement and logistics. Extensive use of such materials may not be too great. Only by solving the issues of procurement and logistics can bio-based materials play a major role.