BASF-Purac JV Starts Bio-Succinic Acid Plant in Spain

Succinity, a joint venture of Corbion Purac and BASF for bio-based succinic acid, has started up of its first commercial production facility at Corbion Purac's Montmeló, Spain, site. Output of 10,000 t/y is designed to supply the global market.

The joint venture, which is headquartered at Düsseldorf, Germany, is also planning a second large-scale facility, with details to be announced following a successful market introduction of the products. Earlier, Succinity hinted at a 50,000 t/y capacity.

The process is based on the proprietary microorganism Basfia succiniciproducens, which the company said allows for flexible feedstock use. Thanks to a closed-loop process, the bio-succinic acid can be produced efficiently without major waste streams, it added. 

Philipp Walter, managing director of Succinity, said the start-up of the company's first commercial facility represents a "key milestone" in its plan to become a major producer of the renewable acid.

BASF and Corbion Purac have cooperated on product development of bio-based succinic acid, being recommended as a versatile building block for chemical intermediates, since 2009. The acid is claimed to be suitable for a variety of potential applications, such as the biopolymer polybutylene succinate (PBS), as well as polyurethanes, coatings and life science products.