DATE : 2014-05-12

 

While oil and natural gas reserves are increasing, a lower rate of naphtha cracking in the US has opened up a an opportunity for alternate production routes for butadiene (BD) and other olefins, a Global Bioenergies executive said on Tuesday.

Crackers in the US have been moving away from naphtha as a feedstock, as ethane cracking is more economical. But the lighter feedstocks also produce less four-carbon olefins such as butadiene, said Jean-Baptiste Barbaroux during a panel discussion at the 11th annual World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology.

"This market trend is creating a need for alternative routes, specifically for isobutene, butadiene and propylene," said the head of corporate development at France-based Global Bioenergies.

There are several routes for propylene, no described routes for isobutene, and the dehydrogenation route for butadiene can be costly and difficult, which creates opportunity, he said.

Global Bioenergies has been working to commercialise its discovery of a biological route for producing butadiene, which it patented in April in the US. The company is working in partnership with Polish-based Synthos on its development.

Once commercialised, bio-butadiene would have the same markets as conventional butadiene as a component of plastics, nylons and rubber.

"We're not trying to develop new markets. These are existing markets," Barbaroux said.

Global Bioenergies has also developed a biological route for isobutene that is nearing industrial production, as well as one for propylene. The company has plans to develop other important olefins such as ethylene, n-butene and isoprene.

 

SOURCE Icis News