Braskem, Haldor Topsoe produce biobased MEG

In Denmark, Braskem and Haldor Topsoe have begun producing monoethylene glycol—a precursor to widely used bottle plastic polyethylene terephthalate—from sugar at demonstration-scale. 

Using the jointly developed MOSAIK technology, the Lyngby  plant will help the companies provide samples to strategic partners for testing and validation and evaluate process economics before deciding whether to proceed to commercial scale. 

The global market for MEG is about $25 billion and is dominated by petroleum feedstocks. 

“This first-ever production of MOSAIK™-MEG is a major step forward in our project and underlines Braskem’s commitment to the Circular Economy through renewable chemicals. This technology has the potential to revolutionize the PET market. That’s why we are increasingly closer to start building this new value chain, so we can deliver the sustainable solution that society is looking for,” says Gustavo Sergi, executive officer of Renewable Chemicals and Specialties at Braskem, in a press statement.               

The Lyngby plant also produces unsaturated polyester resins precursor monopropylene glycol, albeit in lower quantities.