DATE : 2013-11-08
French petrochemicals technologies firm Axens will partner with tyre major Michelin and France’s public sector research institute IFP Energies nouvelles to develop and market bio-based butadiene, it said on Friday.
“For Axens, this collaboration is an opportunity to strengthen its expertise and presence in the biomass transformation processes market in the field of biofuels and bio-based chemistry," said Jean-Luc Nocca, Axens' executive vice president for technological development and innovation.
French petrochemicals technologies firm Axens will partner with tyre major Michelin and France’s public sector research institute IFP Energies nouvelles to develop and market bio-based butadiene, it said on Friday.
Axens said that the partners’ “BioButterfly” project for bio-butadiene was backed by a €52m ($70m) budget over eight years. France’s state environment and energy agency will contribute €14.7m to the project’s financing.
BioButterfly would aim to prepare “the future French bio-sourced synthetic rubber industry,” Axens said.
Terry Gettys, research and development director at Michelin, said: “This joint research project with Axens and IFP is an excellent opportunity for Michelin to find new sustainable sourcing channels for elastomers, which are essential for the quality of our tyres.”
“For Axens, this collaboration is an opportunity to strengthen its expertise and presence in the biomass transformation processes market in the field of biofuels and bio-based chemistry," said Jean-Luc Nocca, Axens' executive vice president for technological development and innovation.
According to Axens, about 60% of global butadiene output is used in the tyre industry.
SOURCE Icis News