MEGA MEG – Braskem and Haldor Topsoe’s Monoethylene Glycol from Sugar Is in Operation

February 11, 2019

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by Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) ...Brazil-based Braskem and Denmark-based Haldor Topsoe just commissioned their pioneering demonstration unit, located in Denmark, for the development of monoethylene glycol (MEG) from sugar. Their innovation for renewable plastic made from sugar instead of traditional fossil fuels has been getting attention and this news marks a decisive step forward towards the goal of producing renewable MEG on an industrial scale.

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Announced in 2017, the cooperation agreement between Braskem and Haldor Topsoe focuses on developing a new technology for converting sugar into MEG at a single industrial unit, which reduces the initial investment in production and consequently makes the process more competitive.

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MEG is an important raw material for industrial applications – like for making polyester (PET) resins, films and fibers. You know, the stuff that’s used all the time in textile and packaging industries, and especially for making plastic PET bottles.

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The demo unit built in Denmark has annual production capacity of hundreds of tons of glycolaldehyde, a substance that is converted into MEG. The goal is for the plant to convert various raw materials, such as sucrose, dextrose and second-generation sugars, into MEG. Currently, the compound is made from fossil-based feedstocks, such as naphtha, gas or coal.

Starting next year, clients will receive samples to test in their products.

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MOnoSAccharide Industrial Cracker – or MOSAIK – is a solution for cracking of sugars to an intermediary product which can be further converted to MEG or other biochemicals, such as methyl vinyl glycolate or glycolic acid, using Haldor Topsoe’s patented processes and catalysts.

Current processes to produce MEG from biomass involve several steps. This can be reduced to two simple steps with MOSAIK and Topsoe’s unique catalyst and technology for the production of MEG. The new solution brings down investment costs and boosts productivity to a level, where it can compete on commercial terms with traditional production from fossil feedstock (naphtha).

Innovation Fund Denmark has co-financed the development and upscaling of MOSAIK.

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France-based CARBIOS has demonstrated an enzymatic depolymerization process for polyester terephthalate polyester fibers from textile waste. The process broke down the material into its original monomers: terephthalic acid and monoethylene glycol.

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“Turning unwanted polyester textiles into high quality raw materials for new products using CARBIOS enzymatic technology is an opportunity for completely changing textile manufacturing and trade in Europe and beyond,” says Alain MARTY, Chief Scientific Officer of CARBIOS. “From a sustainable perspective, our approach will significantly improve the overall life cycle impact of textile products.”

Even Avantium is in on the action with their retaking of full ownership of its YXY plants-to-plastics technology through the purchase of BASF’s shares in the Synvina joint venture. Avantium’s renewable chemistry programs include the Mekong technology, which transforms sugars into plant-based monoethylene glycol (MEG) used in the production of materials including renewable plastics and polyesters. READ MORE

The Competitive Edge: Haldor Topsoe (Biofuels Digest)

Topsoe to build demonstration plant to produce cost-competitive CO2-neutral methanol from biogas and green electricity (Biofuels Digest)

Braskem partners with renowned French consortium specializing in bioproduction and bioscience (Braskem)