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 technology company Suntory plans to launch 100% bio-based plastic bottles in a joint venture with Japanese drinks giant Anellotech. Suntory’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 BTX shipment from the plant is being tested for purity before being used to make the new bio-plastic bottles.