Abstract
BASF and the Dutch technology firm Avantium are forming a joint venture company to make polyethylenefuranoate (PEF), a biobased polyester, and its precursor furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA). Produced via the catalytic transformation of sugars, FDCA is reacted with ethylene glycol to make PEF. The companies are touting PEF as a better alternative to polymers such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) for food and drink packaging because of its superior gas barrier properties. “This can lead to longer shelf-life of packaged products,” the partners say. PEF also has a higher mechanical strength than existing packaging plastics, so less material is required, they say. The firms plan to build a FDCA plant with a capacity of up to 50,000 metric tons per year at BASF’s site in Antwerp, Belgium. Their long-term plan is to license the technology for industrial use. The joint venture will use Avantium’s YXY process, which the Dutch company is currently
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
