Genomatica (San Diego, Calif.; www.genomatica.com) and Tate & Lyle (London; www.tateandlyle.com) signed a joint development agreement for the demonstration-scale production of Genomatica’s biologically derived BDO (1,4-butanediol).
The Genomatica process produces the same BDO product that is currently made from a variety of petroleum-derived feedstocks, but uses 100% renewable feedstocks instead. BDO, an intermediate chemical with a $4 billion market worldwide, is used to make spandex, automotive plastics, running shoes, insulation, and high-value downstream derivatives.
Under the agreement, Tate & Lyle will dedicate a demonstration-scale production facility in Decatur, Illinois, for exclusive use by Genomatica for the scale-up of the bio-based BDO process. Genomatica is ramping its process to 13,000-liter fermenters followed by an integrated downstream process for BDO recovery and purification.The demonstration plant is co-located with a corn wet mill owned and operated by Tate & Lyle, providing ready access to a cost-effective, renewable feedstock.
With engineering already underway, fermentations are expected to begin the second quarter of this year followed by fully-integrated plant operations in the third quarter. Successful operation at demonstration scale will validate the design and basic engineering package for construction of the first commercial-scale plant.
To date, Genomatica has achieved productivity, yield and titer at laboratory scale that would allow cost competitiveness with the best petroleum-based BDO cash costs in North America.In 2011, Genomatica plans to achieve the overall bio-based BDO process performance needed to deliver compelling project rates of return for commercial plants, with the first world-scale plant to be operational in late 2013.