Lanxess and Genomatica announce that Lanxess has run a production campaign of bio-based polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). Their world-scale PBT plant, with a capacity of 80,000 m.t./yr, uses 20 metric tons (m.t.) of bio-based butanediol (BDO) made with Genomatica’s commercially-proven process. They convert sugars into BDO in a patented, “direct” fermentation process.

This BDO fully complied with the demanding Lanxess specifications for petro-based BDO allowing a direct feed of 100 % bio-based BDO into the continuous production process. The properties and the quality of the resulting bio-based PBT are fully equivalent to conventional petro-based PBT with regard to all tested parameters.

The new plant is located in Hamm-Uentrop, Germany. It is operated as a joint venture in which Lanxess has a share of 50 %.

• Lanxess AG, Leverkusen, Germany
• Genomatica, San Diego, USA