Technologies
Avantium has a portfolio of innovative technology programs within the polyester value chain focusing on the conversion of biomass to chemical building blocks and green materials like plastics. The programs are complementary but not dependent on the other technology programs. The technologies build on the company’s extensive experience and expertise in catalysis R&D, process technology, chemical process design and pilot-scale operations.
Avantium currently has three technologies at pilot and demonstration phase. The most advanced is the YXY® plant-to-plastics technology that catalytically converts plant-based sugars into a wide range of chemicals and plastics, such as PEF (polyethylene furanoate). Avantium has successfully demonstrated the YXY® Technology at our pilot plant in Geleen, The Netherlands, and has started construction of the world’s first commercial plant for FDCA in 2022, with planned large-scale production of PEF in 2024.
The second is the Ray Technology™ that catalytically converts industrial sugars to plant-based MEG (mono-ethylene glycol). Avantium is scaling up our Ray Technology™ and the demonstration plant in Delfzijl, the Netherlands opened in 2019.
The third technology is DAWN and converts non-food biomass into industrial sugars and lignin in order to transition the chemicals and materials industries to non-fossil resources. In 2018, Avantium opened the DAWN pilot biorefinery in Delfzijl, The Netherlands.
In addition to our current technologies using plant-based carbon sources, we aspire to develop materials using CO2 as a feedstock and electro-catalysis as the conversion technology. Furthermore, Avantium is looking at new plant-based building block opportunities by evaluating polymer products for the plastic materials of the future.
