Clean technology company Anellotech has begun planning scale-up design and engineering for a commercial-scale plant based on its Bio-TCat process, which produces chemicals and fuels from non-food biomass.

The US-based company said it has demonstrated commercially viable process economics and consistently stable operation during trial runs over many months at its pilot facility in Silsbee, Texas.

The plant – TCat8 – has used loblolly pine feedstock, harvested from forests in Georgia. Anellotech said it used its MinFree pretreatment process to ensure low mineral content in the feedstock, which is critical for catalyst performance.

Anellotech is collaborating with French partners IFP Energies Nouvelles (IFPEN) and Axens to develop the Bio-TCat technology, which produces a mix of benzene, toluene and xylene to make polymers such as polyester, polycarbonate and nylon, or high-octane gasoline blendstock.

In addition, co-product gas streams from Bio-TCat can be used to make significant amounts of renewable electricity, hydrogen or cellulosic ethanol using third-party technologies.

David Sudolsky, present and CEO of Anellotech, commented: “We are excited to begin commercial plant engineering activities with our partner Axens and open up engagement with potential partners for investments and locations for the first commercial plant.”

According to Anellotech, US engineering contractor Jacobs has confirmed that Bio-TCat can potentially reduce CO₂ emissions by 70-90% compared to petroleum-derived equivalents.