5-HMF
Sulzer Chemtech Ltd. (Winterthur, Switzerland; www.sulzer.com) and AVA Biochem AG (Zug, both Switzerland; www.ava-biochem.com) have entered into an exclusive license agreement to commercialize AVA Biochem’s COBRIS technology (Conversion of Biomass to Renewable Industrial Substances). COBRIS offers a versatile solution to produce 5-(hydroxymethyl) furfural (5-HMF), a bio-based platform chemical that is a building block for the production of a broad range of widely used chemical products.
AVA Biochem’s proprietary water-based COBRIS hydro-thermal process (HTP) converts sugar-rich biomass into 5-HMF, a renewable and non-toxic compound that can be used to produce commodity chemicals, such as adhesives, food additives, textile fibers, packaging, films and fine chemicals, as well as a possible alternative to formaldehyde used in chipboards.
Sulzer Chemtech will commercialize the licensed technology, along with its proprietary key equipment for the purification of 5-HMF, such as falling-film evaporators. These are already supporting operations at the unique demonstration plant in Muttenz, Switzerland, where 5-HMF is produced in different forms, for a total capacity of 6 m.t./yr.