Good morning. Hopefully you're interested in bio-based chemicals and materials because that's what both of today's stories are about. Let me know if you'd read a deep dive comparing what Origin is doing to what Danimer and Corbion are doing!

From the condenser:

· Origin's eucalyptus agreement

· Danimer and Corbion's PHA-PLA blend

· MOTD: aniline

SUSTAINABLE CHEMICALS

Origin is interested in eucalyptus

Sustainable chemical startup, Origin Materials, signed a joint development agreement (JDA) with SCG Packaging (SCGP) to test the use of eucalyptus as a feedstock and explore licensing agreements.

Some context:

We’ve talked about Origin a few times lately. Their core technology is a process that converts lignocellulosic biomass into a few different molecules: the key product seems to be chloromethyl furfural (CMF) because that stuff can be used to make all sorts of things (like PET, PEF, and various other polyesters, polyurethanes, and polyamides), but the process also makes a carbon black analog called hydrothermal carbon (HTC), furfural, and levulinic acid.

What’s the deal?

It looks like Origin and SCGP have already been working together to some extent—Origin tested SCGP’s eucalyptus feedstock at its pilot facility in Sacramento and saw similar results relative to what they've seen from wood residues (which is what they have processed historically). It’s not clear how much those results deviate from the norm, but the formation of the JDA implies that line of sight to validation looks feasible. The composition of woody feedstocks varies wildly, so proving flexibility bodes well for scale, especially since scaling a company with solid raw materials has different constraints.

Zooming out:

The licensing comment is particularly interesting because licensing is what chemical companies with dominant process technologies do. Consider LyondellBasell; the company operates ~10 polyolefin sites, but their technology is licensed by 100+ sites. Even if licensing doesn’t bring in absurd profits, it has downstream effects that are worth watching. For example, polypropylene (PP) buyers might prefer PP made with LyondellBasell’s process because they know its quirks (or lack thereof) in their extrusion units.

BIODEGRADABLE POLYMERS

Danimer and TotalEnergies Corbion got together

US-based biopolymer producer, Danimer Scientific, and biopolymer JV, TotalEnergies Corbion, announced a new biopolymer blend for coffee pods.

The background you need:

Last Friday ($) we talked about Technip Energies (not to be confused with TotalEnergies) and their interest in polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). When we talk about biodegradable plastics, there are three main polymers you'll hear about: polylactic acid (PLA), polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). All of them come from different raw materials, have different physical properties, and different rates of biodegradation.

The details:

These two companies are blending PHA and PLA—specifically "Danimer’s signature polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) Nodax® and TotalEnergies Corbion’s Luminy® High Heat polylactic acid (PLA) material". The resulting polymer has been certified as home compostable by the TÜV and is now being tested by a bunch of European companies applications in coffee pods.

Bigger picture:

Individual polymers have unique properties, so new polymers have been brought to market as they enable new applications. Eventually further material innovation led to polymer blending and layering (to take advantage of complementary properties). This mixing is problematic for recycling, but it's not a problem if there's no intent to recycle. And if this PHA-PLA blend enables backyard compostability you won't have to worry as much about biodegradable polymers messing up our existing plastic recycling operations.

Some more headlines

• Linde is building a new nitrogen plant so Samsung can make OLED displays

• A new acetic acid plant started up in India

• Cemvita started up their first pilot plant

• Toray and Mitsui are also working on breaking down cellulosic biomass

• Cepsa and Bio-Oils are making SAF and renewable diesel

Molecule of The Day

Today's MOTD is a personal favorite… aniline.

You probably know aniline most intimately from a commonly performed lab in organic chemistry using azo dyes. While only about 2% of the aniline produced today is used to make dyes and pigments, the molecule was first produced industrially for exactly that. It's legacy can be found in the name of the world's largest chemical producer—BASF (originally called BadischeAnilin- und Soda-Fabrik).The world produces some6 million tons of aniline each year by reacting benzene with nitric acid and hydrogenating the product. The vast majority (almost 90%) of the molecule is used to produce MDI (which is used to make rigid polyurethanes) and the rest becomes rubber processing chemicals and those dyes mentioned earlier.The aniline market is faily consolidated as the top 5 producers are responsible for around 60% of global production. That top 5 is led by BASF, Covestro, and Wanhua.

The reboiler

• Article: Oleochemicals are making a comeback because of the sustainability push. Give this a read if you want some context.

• Podcast: Chemical engineers can work in beer industry—listen to Daniel Garza's experience if you're interested.

• Course: Want to understand the major refining units like crackers and reformers? This will walk you through all of it.*

The bottoms

• Want to discuss this stuff with other readers? Join the Discord.

• Interested in working for a startup? Join the talent pool.

• Looking for older editions? Read the archive.

• Curious about more than just news? Subscribe to Feedstockland.