Total Petrochemicals and Galactic to build new bioplastics plant in Belgium
France's Total Petrochemicals and Belgium's Galactic have announced the signature of an agreement for the creation of a joint venture to develop a production technology for polylactic acid (PLA) bioplastics made from renewable biomass.
The project entails the construction of a pilot plant capable of producing 1,500 tonnes per year of PLA using a clean, innovative and competitive technology, to be developed by both partners. Based on the Galactic Escanaffles site, near Tournai (in Belgium's 'Agrifood Valley'), the plant is scheduled to come on stream in 2009.
The research and development phase, which will start at the same time as its construction, should last 4 to 5 years. Called Futerro, the new company will benefit from the support of the Total Petrochemicals Research Centre in Feluy. The ambitious research project is made possible by the financial support of the Walloon Region within the framework of the competitive hubs of the Walloon Marshall Plan.
Lactic acid is obtained from the fermentation of carbohydrates: either sugar (beet or cane) or starch (corn, wheat, potato or cassava). PLA is an aliphatic polyester obtained by polymerising this lactic acid (schematic, click to enlarge). The polymer is fully compostable, reduces carbon dioxide emissions compared to petroleum based plastics, and has found ready applications in the food packaging and textiles industry:
energy :: sustainability :: biomass :: bioenergy :: biofuels :: sugar :: starch :: bioplastic :: polylactic acid :: Belgium ::
Total Petrochemicals’ objective with this PLA development project is to fulfil a growing demand for biodegradable and renewable plastics.
For Galactic, this new development will mean new outlets for lactic acid by turning it into feedstock for a new green chemistry.
Galactic is a Belgian company created in 1994 part of the Finasucre group - one of the top ten sugar producers - owning sugar refineries in Australia (Bundaberg Sugar), Belgium (Frasnes & Moerbeek) and Africa (Compagnie Sucrière). The Finasucre group represents an annual sugar production of 1.3 million tons.
Established with an initial production capacity of 1,500 tons of lactic acid and lactates, Galactic rapidly expanded its production to more than 18,000 tons today.
References:
Total Petrochemicals: Total Petrochemicals and Galactic venture into bioplastics production [*.pdf] - September 25, 2007.
The project entails the construction of a pilot plant capable of producing 1,500 tonnes per year of PLA using a clean, innovative and competitive technology, to be developed by both partners. Based on the Galactic Escanaffles site, near Tournai (in Belgium's 'Agrifood Valley'), the plant is scheduled to come on stream in 2009.
The research and development phase, which will start at the same time as its construction, should last 4 to 5 years. Called Futerro, the new company will benefit from the support of the Total Petrochemicals Research Centre in Feluy. The ambitious research project is made possible by the financial support of the Walloon Region within the framework of the competitive hubs of the Walloon Marshall Plan.
Lactic acid is obtained from the fermentation of carbohydrates: either sugar (beet or cane) or starch (corn, wheat, potato or cassava). PLA is an aliphatic polyester obtained by polymerising this lactic acid (schematic, click to enlarge). The polymer is fully compostable, reduces carbon dioxide emissions compared to petroleum based plastics, and has found ready applications in the food packaging and textiles industry:
energy :: sustainability :: biomass :: bioenergy :: biofuels :: sugar :: starch :: bioplastic :: polylactic acid :: Belgium ::
Total Petrochemicals’ objective with this PLA development project is to fulfil a growing demand for biodegradable and renewable plastics.
For Galactic, this new development will mean new outlets for lactic acid by turning it into feedstock for a new green chemistry.
Galactic is a Belgian company created in 1994 part of the Finasucre group - one of the top ten sugar producers - owning sugar refineries in Australia (Bundaberg Sugar), Belgium (Frasnes & Moerbeek) and Africa (Compagnie Sucrière). The Finasucre group represents an annual sugar production of 1.3 million tons.
Established with an initial production capacity of 1,500 tons of lactic acid and lactates, Galactic rapidly expanded its production to more than 18,000 tons today.
References:
Total Petrochemicals: Total Petrochemicals and Galactic venture into bioplastics production [*.pdf] - September 25, 2007.
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