Avantium, the Netherlands, has begun construction of a pilot plant that will produce YXY building blocks for making green materials and fuels. The company's patented YXY technology converts biomass into furanics — chemicals formed by removing the water from carbohydrates — using a fast, cost-effective production process that may be implemented in existing chemical production processes.

The plant has received a 1 million-euro grant from the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture. Avantium is obtaining additional private funding for plant operation and continued YXY commercialization efforts. The company anticipates the plant will go online in early 2011. 

Avantium is partnering with Ingeo producer NatureWorks LLC, Minnetonka, Minn., and Teijin Aramid B.V., the Netherlands, to develop materials based on its YXY building blocks, which it plans to use to produce green, recyclable materials including carpets, textiles, high-performance fibers, coatings, bottles and plasticizers.

November/December 2010