Danimer Scientific, a leader in the U.S. bioplastics industry, recently completed an expansion of its plant in Rochester. The expansion introduced an innovative thermo-catalytic process that significantly improves production efficiency compared to traditional fermentation methods.
Following the successful acquisition of the US company Novmer three years ago, Danimer not only acquired the core patents relating to the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), but also took over a pilot plant in Rochester, New York. This move lays a solid foundation for Danimer's further development in the field of bioplastics.
The plant has undergone a strategic expansion in order to increase production capacity for RInnoo brand biopolymers and to facilitate extensive application development and customer testing. After the upgrade, the plant's production capacity has jumped to 20 tons per year, a huge breakthrough compared to the previous production of 1 ton per year.
The expansion project encompassed a number of improvements, including the expansion of the carbonylation reaction unit, the addition of three distillation columns, the enhancement of the polymerization reaction unit, and the integration of a polymer drying unit. Together, these initiatives have improved the overall productivity of the plant.
Notably, RInnoo PHA stands out for its unique synthesis process, which uses thermal catalysis rather than traditional biomass fermentation. This innovative approach has revolutionized the bioplastics industry by not only significantly reducing production costs at large scale, but also simplifying construction and operational processes.
Utilizing the innovative Novo22 technology, Danimer's process involves the selective catalytic conversion of ethylene oxide and carbon dioxide to lactone monomers, followed by ring-opening polymerization to produce high molecular weight poly(3-hydroxypropionate) (p(3HP)). The biopolymer exhibits superior barrier properties, higher elongation, and lower melt temperatures than traditional PHAs.
Through these technological advances, Danimer Science is committed to meeting the needs of an ever-changing market and expects to revolutionize the landscape of sustainable polymer production. Their goal is to lead the industry in a more environmentally friendly, efficient and sustainable direction, laying a solid foundation for the bioplastics industry of the future.
