Avantium said the grant provided by the agency, an executive department of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate that supports innovative and sustainable entrepreneurship by Dutch companies, was awarded solely for the expansion of the pilot plant. It will not be used for the potential construction of the FDCA flagship plant in Delfzijl planned to start-up in 2023.

FDCA is the key building block for Avantium’s fully recyclable, plant-based  polyethylene furanoate (PEF) and is designed for use in a wide range of applications, such as bottles, packaging, film and textiles.

The renewables specialist said the funding will help it set up new units in the FDCA pilot plant that will demonstrate optimal polymerization as well as mechanical recycling of pure PEF and PET/PEF mixtures. The company’s PEF can be used in both monolayer applications and as a barrier material in multilayer PET applications, enabling improved performance and full recyclability of both pure PEF and PET/PEF mixtures.

With the expansion, Avantium said the entire PEF value chain will be covered at the pilot plant, which will be “a true center of excellence” for the company’s YXY Technology.”

The expanded pilot plant will not only support the successful operations of Avantium’s FDCA flagship plant but will also enable it to actively file new patent applications to protect its leading FDCA/PEF position and licensing strategy, said Heleen Goorissen, director Innovation & Technology.

Author: Dede Williams, Freelance Journalist