Virent produces plant-based paraxylene
- Filed in:
- Resins,
- Bioplastics
Virent reports that it has successfully made paraxylene (PX) from 100% renewable plant sugars. The PX molecule, when combined with existing PET technology, allows manufacturers to offer customers 100% natural, renewable, plant-based PET and packaging. This announcement is the culmination of Virent’s mixed-xylenes development, which started in 2010. According to the company, the chemical is the missing 70% needed to create a 100% renewable PET packaging.
Virent’s PX, which has been trademarked BioFormPX™, can be used in bottling, packaging, and a wide variety of fibers and materials. The chemical is made through a patented, catalytic process that converts plant-based sugars into PX molecules identical to those made from petroleum. All of Virent’s chemicals are “drop in” replacements that enable full utilization of existing processing and logistics infrastructure without blending limitations.
BioFormPX can be blended at any ratio the customer desires, and made from a wide variety of feedstocks, including sugar cane, corn, and woody biomass.
The company is working with potential partners and customers to explore large-scale commercial options to augment its existing 10,000 gal per-year demonstration plant in Madison, WI.
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