MOSCOW (MRC) -- DuPont Industrial Biosciences and Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) have announced the opening of the world’s first bio-based furan dicarboxylic methyl ester (FDME) pilot production facility in Decatur, IL, USA, as per GV.
According to the companies, the plant is the centerpiece of a long-standing collaboration that will help bring a greater variety of sustainably sourced biomaterials to consumers. FDME is a molecule derived from fructose that can be used to create a variety of bio-based chemicals and materials, including plastics, that are more cost-effective, efficient and sustainable than their fossil fuel-based counterparts.
"We’re confident FDME is both the more sustainable option and the better-for-business option," said Michael Saltzberg, Ph.D., global business director for Biomaterials at DuPont Industrial Biosciences. "This molecule, and its numerous applications, will be high-performing, cost-effective and better for the environment. ADM’s expertise in agricultural value chains and the chemistry of carbohydrates makes them the best possible business partner on this initiative. Our goal is to bring this game-changing technology to commercial scale as quickly as possible."
"Companies and consumers are of course concerned about their environmental footprint, but their bottom line will always be a key priority," said ADM Chief Technology Officer Todd Werpy. "This new, innovative product will help customers replace plastics with materials that are more environmentally friendly, better performing and cost efficient. We’re pleased to work with DuPont, a leader in biomaterials, to bring this innovative new portfolio of solutions to customers around the globe, and we’re excited about the future of FDME."
One of the first FDME-based polymers under development by DuPont is polytrimethylene furandicarboxyate (PTF), a novel polyester also made from DuPont’s proprietary Bio-PDO (1,3-propanediol). PTF is a 100 % renewable polymer that, in bottling applications, can be used to create plastic bottles that are lighter-weight, more sustainable and better performing. Research shows that PTF has up to 10-15 times the CO2 barrier performance of traditional PET plastic, which results in a longer shelf life. With that better barrier, companies will be able to design significantly lighter-weight packages, lowering the carbon emissions and significant costs related with shipping carbonated beverages.
As MRC reported before, 31 August 2017, Dow Chemical Co and DuPont successfully completed their planned USD130 billion merger to form DowDuPont.
DuPont is an American chemical company that was founded in July, 1802. The company manufactures a wide range of chemical products, leading extensive innovative research in this field. The company is the inventor of many unique plastics and other materials, including neoprene, nylon, Teflon, Kevlar, Mylar, Tyvek, etc. DuPont was the developer and main producer of Freon used in the production of refrigeration equipment.
MRC