DuPont and ADM launch bioplastic pilot plant

DuPont

DUPONT and ADM have announced the opening of a pilot plant in that will be the world’s first production facility for bio-based furan dicarboxylic methyl ester (FDME), which can be used to make a lightweight plastic.

The two companies developed a method for producing the long sought-after molecule FDME from fructose derived from corn starch in 2016. They have now moved to the pilot phase with the opening of a pilot plant in Illinois, US, which is expected to produce 60 t/y of FDME.

DuPont

FDME is a molecule that can be used to create chemicals and materials, including plastic. One of the first FDME-based molecules under development is polytrimethylene furandicarboxylate (PTF), a polymer that can be used to make more sustainable plastic bottles. PTF has a gas barrier that is 10-15 times higher than the commonly-used plastic polyethylene terephthalate (PET). This increases the shelf life of the product and reduces the amount of plastic needed to keep the CO₂ in the drinks. PTF is produced using a more environmentally friendly method compared to PET, which is usually derived from petrochemicals.

“We’re confident FDME is both the more sustainable option and the better-for-business option,” said Michael Saltzberg, global business director for biomaterials at DuPont Industrial Biosciences. “This molecule, and its numerous applications, will be high-performing, cost-effective and better for the environment.”