Anellotech has progressed its 100 per cent bio-based bottle collaboration with global consumer beverage company Suntory at its TCat-8 pilot plant in Texas. Anellotech’s TCat-8 pilot plant is using Bio-TCatTM technology, an efficient thermal catalytic process which converts non-food biomass feedstock material into BTX aromatics, which is a group of renewable chemicals identical to its petro-based counterparts. The first shipment of BTX has been sent to joint development partners IFPEN and Axens for purification studies to make bio-paraxylene, which is the key aromatic chemical needed to make 100 per cent renewable beverage bottles. Bio-paraxylene from TCat-8 will be used to make renewable PET resin for prototype bottle manufacture and product testing. Since the announcement of a successful two-week continuous pilot plant trial in March 2018, over 1,200 hours of cumulative on-stream time have been achieved at TCat-8. “Following our announcements earlier this year on process development and continuous operation, we are glad that significant progress continues at our TCat-8 pilot plant,” said David Sudolsky, President & CEO of Anellotech. “Having collaborated with Suntory since 2012 to advance development of cost-competitive bio-aromatics, we hope bio-based plastics made from our Bio-TCatTM process and a 100 per cent bio-based bottle soon become a reality.”
US sustainable beverage company announced plans to launch 100 million bio - based plastic bottles in a joint venture with Japanese drinks giant global . Anellotech ’s TCat-8 pilot plant in Texas uses a thermal catalytic process called Bio - TCatTM technology which converts biomass into BTX aromatics . bio - paraxylene from TCat-8 will be used to make renewable polyethylene terephthalate ( PET ) resin for prototype bottle manufacture and product testing . The first product produced from the plant is being tested for purity before being used to make the new bio - plastic bottles .