Chemical technologies licensor Lummus and biotech firm RWDC Industries have signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on “global polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) deployment initiatives”, said the company.
PHA is a biopolymer that microorganisms produce directly. RWDC uses plant-based oils, including post-consumer or waste cooking oils, to produce a proprietary PHA, named Solon. Solon PHA can be organically recycled or composted, and products or packaging made with it that find their way into the environment are biodegradable, the companies said.
With the cooperation the companies aim to accelerate availability and mass adoption of PHA as a "natural alternative” to synthetically produced petroleum-based plastics, they said. Financial terms were not disclosed.
US firm Danimer Scientific is also working on PHA, as does South Korea's CJ CheilJedang which in 2016 acquired the PHA assets of US-based Metabolix. Interest in PHA has revived because of the surge in demand for environmentally sustainable chemicals and plastics.
We remind, Lummus Technology, a global provider of process technologies and value-driven energy solutions, announced an integrated technology award from SP Chemicals and its subsidiary SP Olefins. SP Chemicals will license Lummus' CATOFIN technology for a new 800 KTA propane dehydrogenation (PDH) unit, and SP Olefins will license Lummus' Novolen technology for a new 400 KTA polypropylene (PP) unit. Both units will be located at SP Chemicals' complex in Jiangsu Province, China.
mrchub.com