ENGINEERINGNET.EU -- Reverdia, a joint venture between the Dutch DSM and the French Roquette Frères, has begun operations at a commercial-scale plant producing sustainable succinic acid in Cassano Spinola, Italy.
The plant, which has a capacity of about 10,000 tonnes per year, is unique in its kind, being the world’s first dedicated large-scale plant for the production of succinic acid from renewable resources.
It is also the only commercial facility to benefit from experience gained using low-pH yeast technology on a demonstration plant scale. Reverdia states to regard this 'as essential to be able to promise further improvements in product quality'.
Key applications include polybutylene succinate (PBS), polyester polyols for polyurethanes, coating and composite resins, phthalate-free plasticizers, and 1,4 butanediol. End products include footwear, packaging and paints.
Will van den Tweel, Reverdia’s General Manager: “The new phase will enable direct and indirect customers to start production of commercial scale volumes of materials and end products based on bio-based succinic acid.”
