Menlo Park, California - Rennovia Inc. says it has successfully demonstrated production of hexamethylenediamine (HMD), a monomer used in the manufacture of polyurethanes, from widely available renewable feedstocks.
The California-based renewable chemicals company also recently announced its development of bio-based adipic acid, also used in the manufacture of polyurethanes, with demonstration-scale production planned for 2014 and commercial-scale production in 2018.
Rennovia said production costs for its bio-based HMD project could be 20-25% below that of conventional petroleum-based HMD, with significantly lower per pound capital cost.
"Practising our HMD process as demonstration scale is the important next milestone for the company," said Robert Wedinger CEO of Rennovia. "The development of our HMD process further validates Rennovia's unique ability to create technological breakthroughs in the production of bio-based chemical products, with projected significant cost advantages versus products produced from petroleum-based feedstocks."