BioAmber to build its first North American biosuccinic acid plant
17,000 MT-capacity plant will be commissioned in 2013
Through its subsidiary Bluewater Biochemicals, BioAmber Inc. will set up its first North American biosuccinic acid plant in Sarnia, Ontario. The Canadian plant will have an initial capacity of 17,000 MT – a significantly larger output than BioAmber’s current plant in France, which has a 3,000 MT capacity – and will be commissioned in 2013.
Succinic acid is a renewable, non-toxic chemical that can be further modified to make a wide range of products including those for use in flavours, fragrances and cosmetics. BioAmber plans to double capacity in Sarnia by 2014 through the introduction of a next generation yeast being developed with Cargill. The company also plans to produce 1,4-Butanediol (BDO) on the site using technology exclusively licensed from DuPont, which converts succinic acid to BDO. The goal, says BioAmber, is for the plant to produce 35,000 MT of biosuccinic and 23,000 MT of BDO at its peak.
Ontario and Canadian ministries and agencies provided BioAmber with CAD $35m in grants and loans to locate in Sarnia and it is believed the plant’s first phase will spur substantial regional economic growth.
