Page 189 - CW E-Magazine (11-6-2024)

Special Report Special Report

Bio-based and biodegradable plastics industries

Consumer in China
Biodiesel Byproduct Glycerol Lactic Polylactic product
acid
acid
(eg bioplastic cup)
Executive summary from Chinese entrepreneurs acquired ANN ZHANG
hina has emerged as a global through in-depth face-to-face inter- nova-Institute
leader in strategic technologies views. Senior Industry Expert
Fig. 1: Route from biomass to glycerol to lactic acid to end product. Csuch as 5G, renewable energy,
depending on the specifi cations. As Electrons and electric vehicles in the past two Meanwhile, we would like to point MICHAEL CARUS
mentioned, one of the main challenges decades. This dominance may leave out that the terms “bio-based plastics” Founder and CEO,
is the diffi culty of processing lignocellu- European companies impressed and and “biodegradable plastics” belong to nova-Institute and Executive Manager
lose and specifi cally separating out lig- concerned about competition while different classifi cations. According to Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI)
nin from cellulose. The effi cient pre- also sparking curiosity about China’s Chinese national standard (GB/T 39514-
treatment of lignocellulosic biomass Chemicals leapfrogging advancement in these 2020 and GB/T 20197- 2006), the “bio- In 2022, global plastics pro-
will present an important breakthrough. Hydrogen areas. based plastics” refers to the plastics duction reached 400.3-mt, with a
(wholly or partly) derived from biomass worldwide market value of US$712-
Emerging routes from biomass to Paving the way to a net-zero chemi- feedstocks, and they are not necessa- bn, an increase of about 1.6% from
chemicals cal industry in 2060, using renewable rily degradable; while “biodegradable 2021. Asia is the world’s largest
Biomass and bio-derived products biomass to produce bio-based chemi- plastics” pertains to plastics that bio- region for plastics production, with
present a valuable opportunity to be cals has been one of the promising degrade by microorganisms under certain a share of around 55%, of which
electrocatalytically converted into be- transitional solutions for the global condition at the end of their life. “Bio- China accounts for 32%, with 128-mt
spoke chemicals, such as for cosmetics Biomass Water chemical industry. As China and degradable plastics” may be made from in 2022.
and pharmaceuticals – though, again, Anode Cathode Europe strive to follow this path, a similar bio-based or fossil feedstock. This report
these are not at a signifi cant scale of question may exist within the European outlines the characteristics of polybuty- Projected 49% CAGR growth of
production to substantially reduce Fig. 2: Concept of a biomass electrolyser with high value chemicals and green hydrogen coproduction. chemical industry: What is the status lene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), a bio- bio-based plastics market in China
chemical sector emissions in line with to primary chemical markets. Lactic place at much lower potentials com- of the bio-based industry in China? degradable plastic derived from fossil by 2026
net zero targets. An example of an acid can be obtained directly via the pared to oxidation of water, the total Can China and Europe fi nd a coopera- resources. It also describes the proper- China’s bio-based plastics industry
alternative plastic production route and fermentation of sugars present in bio- electricity input required is signifi - tive and win-win way to develop this ties of polylactic acid (PLA) and poly- is experiencing rapid growth despite
an example of potential green hydrogen mass. However, recent studies suggest cantly lower, reducing costs for hydro- industry? hydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), which are being in its early stages, largely pro-
co-production is outlined in Figure 1. that an electrochemical and chemical gen production. bio-based and biodegradable, and poly- pelled by policy incentives. Projections
route might have both environmental This report presents a timely mar- amide (PA), which is bio-based, but not suggest that the industry will expand
Glycerol to lactic acid and technoeconomic advantages. The key to realising this technology ket analysis of China’s bio-based and biodegradable. substantially, reaching 2.53-mt by
In 2022, around 2.3 billion litres is developing cost-effective catalysts biodegradable plastics industry and 2026, up from 765,631-tonnes in 2023,
of biodiesel were produced in the UK. Co-producing green hydrogen and that can achieve biomass partial oxida- markets in 2024. Since this is nova-ins- China: The world’s largest plastics representing a notable CAGR of
Glycerol is the main by-product of chemicals from biomass tion with high activity and high selec- titute’s fi rst overview of the Chinese producer approximately 49%.
biodiesel production. Glycerol of high An advantage of the electrocatalytic tivity. The scale of possible hydrogen market, the report may cover only key
purity (>98%) can be electrocatalytically processes described above is that these production is restricted as the hydro- products that dominate the Chinese
converted to high value products, such take place in electrolysers, identical to gen extraction rate is around 10% of market. However, it explores key mar-
as organic acids, depending on the water electrolysis – a well-established the weight of the total biomass, though ket trends, policy dynamics, techno-
catalyst and the potentials applied. The technology used in, for example, it could be used to feed back into the logical advancements, major market
selectivity to such products is diffi cult hydrogen production. Instead of oxidising chemical industry at the point of pro- players, and growth opportunities. The
to control and so is the separation of water to create oxygen at the anode, a duction for further use. aim is to provide European chemical
such mixtures from the aqueous phase. bio-derivative is oxidised to produce companies with actionable insights to
high value chemicals, such as 5-(hy- [Part 3, which will be published in the navigate the Chinese market effectively,
An alternative route to glycerol droxymethyl) furfural (5-HMF) and June 18 issue of Chemical Weekly, will enabling informed decisions about
conversion comprises a mix of electro- 2,5-Furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA). At focus on use as plastic waste and carbon market expansion or potential partner-
catalytic and chemical routes, yielding the cathode, green hydrogen is simul- dioxide as feedstock] ships in China. Notably, the report elu-
lactic acid – a precursor to a bioderived taneously produced from the protons cidates all relevant critical policies in
polymer – with high selectivity above contained in biomass (Figure 2). [The complete report, including refer- the bio-based and biodegradable plas-
85%. Whilst the lactic acid market is ences, can be viewed online at: www.royal- tics markets since 2020. Furthermore,
growing, this is not large in comparison Since biomass oxidation takes society.org/defossilising-chemicals] it provides fi rsthand market insights

188 Chemical Weekly June 11, 2024 Chemical Weekly June 11, 2024 189

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