DSM and partner Roquette will dissolve their biosuccinic acid joint venture Reverdia with effect from Apr.1, 2019.

All rights and obligations related to Reverdia’s Biosuccinium plant in Cassano, Italy, will pass to Roquette, which will operate the plant and continue supplying customers under a non-exclusive license from DSM.

DSM, which originally developed the Biosuccinium production process, said the technology has matured to a point where the roll-out potential is significant enough to warrant a focused effort on licensing. The Dutch group will now offer exclusive licenses to strategic customers and other third parties interested in integrating the Biosuccinium process into their value chains.

“The Reverdia joint venture has proven Biosuccinium technology to be the most sustainable and competitive bio-succinic acid on the market today,” said Atul Thakrar, president of bio-based products and services at DSM. “We have gone well beyond the start-up phase and the Biosuccinium brand will continue to grow under the leadership of our partner Roquette. This is an example of DSM doing what it does best – establishing market-leading technologies and commercializing them.”

Reverdia was established in March 2012, and the Cassano plant started operating in December that year with a capacity of about 10,000 t/y.

Biosuccinic acid is a platform molecule that can be used to manufacture polymers, resins and several other products that have applications in a range of large-volume markets. Key applications include footwear, packaging and paints.