Cargill, IFP Energies nouvelles (IFPEN) and Axens are joining forces to further develop and scale bio-based acrylic acid. The collaboration leverages Cargill’s experience with bio-based materials, IFPEN’s expertise in the field of catalyst and bioprocess development, and Axens’ catalyst manufacturing and industrial scale-up design process to commercialize the Procter & Gamble (P&G) company’s lactic-to-acrylic-acid technology, which Cargill licensed in earlier this year.
Producing Acrylic Acid from Renewable Sources
More than 6 million tons of petro-based acrylic acid will be produced this year. By leveraging Cargill’s processing technology and IFPEN/Axens’ know-how in catalysis and scale up, the project aims to produce acrylic acid from renewable sources thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50 percent.
Since Cargill’s award-winning lactic acid technology is already commercially proven, efforts will focus on the catalyst and process development needed to convert lactic acid into bio-based acrylic acid at scale – expertise for which IFPEN and Axens are world renowned. Bio-based acrylic acid can be used in a variety of applications delivering more sustainable solutions on a wide range of consumer products.
Pierre Beccat, EVP technology development and innovation at Axens adds: “We are very proud to be associated to Cargill and IFPEN to develop a solution in the field of bio-products thus bolstering Axens’ ambition to be a major player in the bio-economy. The technology was developed in P&G’s corporate laboratories and Axens is very excited to develop it to an industrial scale as this technology could have a significant impact on the marketplace.”
The companies are advancing the technology according to staged milestones. Although it will be several years before it is ready to be deployed at commercial scale, test samples could be ready for potential customers sometime within the next 12 months.
Source: Axens