Ontario, Canada -- BioAmber opened the world’s largest succinic acid plant in Sarnia, Ontario on 6 August, 2015.
The facility, which cost $141.5m to build, uses biotechnology to produce sustainable chemicals from sugar and is a jv with Mitsui & Co.
Sarnia was commissioned to have a capacity of 30kT/year for bio-based succinic acid made from glucose it will source from southern Ontario agricultural suppliers.
The firm will supply Bayer MaterialScience with the material for use in a new range of PU for textile applications. Bio-based succinic acid can substitute adipic acid in synthetic leather, wood and metal coatings, elastomers and foam applications.
According to BioAmber, adipic acid is currently used in 25% of polyurethanes and is a 3,000kT/year market.
“The market for bio-succinic acid is poised for rapid growth as manufacturers seek to increase the renewable content in their products by using more bio-based polyurethanes,” BioAmber said.
