Brazilian petrochemical group Braskem is cooperating with Danish catalysts producer Haldor Topsoe to develop a new route to produce MEG from sugar.

The project is based on a two-step process that Topsoe has developed.  Focusing on the conversion of sugar at a single industrial unit will reduce initial investment costs and boost the competitiveness of the technology, the companies said.

Under terms of the agreement, the partners will build a demonstration plant at an undisclosed location in Denmark, with operation scheduled to start in 2019. The plant will conduct tests to validate the technology for different raw materials such as sucrose, dextrose and second-generation sugars as well as confirm technical and economic feasibility.

“This novel bio-based initiative allies a cutting-edge technology with deep expertise in process design, scale-up and industrial operation, which will allow us to push the renewable chemistry to a whole new level,” said Mateus Lopes, head of innovation in renewable chemicals at Braskem. Under the brand name “I’m green,” the Sao Paulo group already markets a bio-based PE made from sugarcane.

Kim Knudsen, executive vice president at Haldor Topsoe added that catalysis will play an extremely important role in developing sustainable solutions from renewable sources such as sugars. “We look forward to applying our world-leading competencies within catalysis and process engineering in the further commercialization of this important technology,” he said.

Braskem is currently the subject of much media speculation about whether it has received a takeover approach from LyondellBasell. The Brazilian company has so far denied receiving such a bid.