Origin Materials to build oxidation pilot plant in ON

Origin recently purchased this asset from Eastman Chemical Company. This major applications development ($6 million) project is being supported by Bioindustrial Innovation Canada through its COMM SCI initiative with its partners; Lambton College and the Western Sarnia-Lambton Research Park. This project will include the relocation, commissioning and process validation of the pilot plant. BIC will provide advice, services and financial support for the removal of technical and market application barriers to commercialization of bio-based PTA and FDCA to enable commercial production of bio-based polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyethylene furanoate (PEF).

In a recent news release, Eastman Chemical Company, headquartered in Tennessee, USA, announced that, in addition to the sale of the pilot plant, Eastman and Origin Materials have entered into an agreement for Eastman to license its proprietary 2,5-Furandicarboxylic Acid and FDCA derivatives production technology from renewable resources to Origin Materials. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Earlier this year, Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC) announced a COMM SCI investment in Origin Materials, Sacramento, California, through BIC’s Sustainable Chemistry Alliance (SCA) investment fund, as part of an investment round that will see Origin construct its first commercial scale demonstration facility in Sarnia in late 2018.

“Locating this oxidation pilot plant in Sarnia is further recognition of the great innovation potential within the Sarnia-Lambton area. BIC is very excited to support Origin and their activities. There are many benefits to producing products and conducting applied research within a strong industrial biotechnology cluster,” Sandy Marshall, executive director of BIC said.

Dr. Mehdi Sheikhzadeh, Executive Dean of Applied Research and Innovation at Lambton College stated: “This project is another very successful example of attracting international companies to our region that will utilize our strong collaborative effort in our community to expand the Sarnia-Lambton Bio Hybrid Chemistry Cluster.”