Abstract
Abstract2,5‐Furan dicarboxylic acid (FDCA) is a promising intermediate for producing polyethylene furan dicarboxylate, an alternative to polyethylene terephthalate that combines a significantly lower greenhouse gas footprint with better mechanical and gas barrier properties. This work presents a process design and techno‐economic evaluation for producing FDCA from non‐edible biomass via the oxidation of furfural to furoate salt, and subsequent carboxylation to furandicarboxylate salt. Major technical uncertainties are associated with the possible polymerization of furfural in the oxidation step and the state of salt phase in the carboxylation step. Based on the furfural market price of $1400/ton this process requires a minimum selling price of 2000 ± 500 $/ton FDCA. To compete with purified terephthalic acid (PTA), it requires a premium of 100% for better performance and sustainability, or a combination of much cheaper furfural and a much lower capital expenditures (CAPEX). © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Highlights
Polyethylene furan dicarboxylate (PEF) is a polymer alternative to polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is produced using a different monomer, 2,5-furan dicarboxylic acid (FDCA)
The chemical structures of both polymers are very comparable, the linearity of the p-xylene segment in PET induces increased mobility compared to the furan ring in PEF, which lowers the mechanical and gas barrier properties from PET compared to PEF.[1]
The various contributions that are estimated as factors of the capital expenditures (CAPEX), i.e. the annual fixed cost, the return on investment and the depreciation and royalties, account together for 38% of the required minimum selling price
Summary
Guus H C Dubbink , Thomas R J Geverink, Bas Haar, Harald W Koets, Abhay Kumar, Henk van den Berg, Aloijsius G J van der Ham, Sustainable Process Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands Jean-Paul Lange , Sustainable Process Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands; Shell Technology Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Supporting information may be found in the online version of this article
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 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
