Released on 07/12/12

Global Bioenergies is entering the development phase in a programme to make butadiene from biomass, the France-based renewable chemicals firms said on Thursday.The move follows after Global Bioenergies achieved “validation of a metabolic path” to directly convert biomass into butadiene under a cooperation with Poland’s synthetic rubber major Synthos.“The programme is now in its development phase and Synthos will contribute several million euros over the next three years,” Global Bioenergies said in a statement.After isobutene and propylene, butadiene is the third molecule for which Global Bioenergies achieved experimental validation, CEO Marc Delcourt added.Thomas Kalwat, president of Synthos, said that the results achieved by Global Bioenergies were “very convincing.”“A bio-based method to produce butadiene at an attractive price will benefit the environment, enable the manufacture of a new generation of rubbers, and it will offer Synthos a clear competitive advantage,” Kalwat added.Under their arrangement, Synthos will pay Global Bioenergies royalties on bio-based butadiene produced for use in rubber.Global Bioenergies retains exclusive rights for other applications, including nylon, certain plastics and latex, it said.

Source Chemical Week