In Wisconsin, biobased paraxylene developer Virent has partnered with BP and Johnson Matthey to advance its technology.
Virent’s Bioforming technology, which is being developed with JM, produces drop-in reformate product from renewable sources that can be used to produce renewable fuels and also processed into lower carbon intensive bio-PX, the feedstock for biobased purified terephthalic acid (PTA), using existing technologies.
Under the terms of the deal, BP will contribute technical resources and has exclusive rights to negotiate becoming the sole manufacturer of bio-PX using Virent’s technology. “We consider Virent’s technology to be the leading route to commercial quantities of renewable bio-PX that may enable BP’s existing petrochemicals plants to produce a distinctive product in support of our commitment to advance a low carbon future,” says Charles Damianides, BP’s vice-president of petrochemicals technology and licensing.