Avantium N.V., a leader in renewable and circular polymer materials, has entered into a collaboration with EPC Engineering & Technologies GmbH, a global technology provider and engineering firm. This strategic partnership aims to advance continuous polyester production technology for polyethylene furanoate (PEF), targeting plant capacities of 100 kilotonnes per annum and beyond. The collaboration will combine both companies’ expertise to commercialize Avantium’s continuous polymerization technology for PEF (“PEF cPol Technology”).
Combining Expertise for Scalable PEF Production
Through this partnership, Avantium and EPC will integrate their respective technologies and processes. They will also leverage the solid-state polymerization (SSP) expertise of POLYMETRIX AG. Avantium will include the PEF cPol Technology in its YXY® Technology license package. This will enable industrial partners to scale production. EPC will provide critical engineering, plant construction services, and key equipment, including SSP equipment from POLYMETRIX, for Avantium’s future licensees.
Avantium’s YXY® Technology and the Role of PEF
Avantium has developed its proprietary YXY® Technology to produce furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA). FDCA is a key component in producing fully plant-based and circular polymer PEF, branded as releaf®. Currently, Avantium is in the process of commissioning the world’s first commercial FDCA plant in Delfzijl, the Netherlands. The FDCA Flagship Plant plays a crucial role in Avantium’s strategy. It provides a platform for the direct sale of FDCA and releaf® to offtake partners. Additionally, it offers technology licenses for large-scale industrial production worldwide.
Building on Past Successes: From Concept to Commercialization
Avantium and EPC Engineering & Technologies have previously collaborated in 2017 when EPC developed a conceptual design for a 25 kilotonnes per annum PEF continuous polymerization plant using melt-state polymerization. This early-stage design laid the foundation for the Joint Development Agreement to scale the polymerization technology to 100 kilotonnes per annum and beyond. With the addition of POLYMETRIX’s expertise in continuous solid-state polymerization, the collaboration will allow Avantium to offer a complete continuous PEF production process with performance guarantees, whether for new greenfield plants, brownfield sites, or retrofitted facilities.
A Sustainable Future for the Polyester Industry
As per the press release, this collaboration strengthens Avantium’s position in the renewable and circular polymer market. It offers scalable and sustainable solutions for the polyester industry. The partnership leverages the combined strengths of Avantium, EPC, and POLYMETRIX. It aims to drive the transition to greener, cost-effective production methods. This will advance the future of plastics toward a more sustainable, circular economy.
