Invista & LanzaTech Collaborate to Develop Bio-based Butadiene

WICHITA, Kan. -- One of the world-leading nylon producer INVISTA and biotechnology firm LanzaTech signed a joint development agreement focused on bio-based butadiene. According to the agreement, INVISTA and LanzaTech will collaborate on projects to develop one-step and two-step technologies to convert industrial waste gas carbon monoxide into butadiene. Initial commercialization is expected in 2016.

The collaboration will initially focus on the production of butadiene in a 2-step process from LanzaTech CO-derived 2,3-butanediol INSERT INTO [lzx].[dbo].[tb_new]([id],[type],[title],[source],[personal],[image],[contents],[time],[number]) VALUES (2,3 BDO). A direct single step process will also be developed to produce butadiene directly through a process of gas fermentation.

INVISTA and LanzaTech will also collaborate on the joint development of tools that will allow the extension of this technology-once developed-for the direct production of other industrial chemicals, including nylon intermediates, from carbon monoxide containing waste gases, utilizing LanzaTechs gas fermentation technology and proprietary biochemical platform. INVISTA is building internal biotechnical capability to develop biological routes to its products and feedstocks.

Butadiene is an important intermediate chemical used in the production of synthetic rubber and various plastics. It is also a key intermediate chemical used by INVISTA in its proprietary, butadiene-based adiponitrile (ADN) production technologies. ADN is a critical intermediate chemical used in the manufacture of nylon 6,6.

"As we seek innovative solutions to increase the global supply of butadiene, we believe developing a cost competitive biological route to butadiene will help assure ample supply and reduce price volatility," said Bill Greenfield, executive vice president of INVISTAs nylon intermediates business. "We believe this collaboration effort is a great opportunity to leverage our own internal biotechnical research with the unique and impressive capabilities that LanzaTech has developed."

According to Jennifer Holmgren, CEO of LanzaTech, "This collaboration is an important next step toward our vision of a diversified fuels and chemical portfolio. Joining forces with INVISTAs world-class research team will enable us to accelerate the commercialization of a biological route to butadiene, further demonstrating that gas fermentation is an important route for the production of both fuels and chemicals."

LanzaTechs 15,000 gal/year pilot facility at a steel mill in New Zealand produces ethanol and 2,3 BDO from waste carbon monoxide gas. In Shanghai, China, LanzaTechs 100,000-gallon-per-year demonstration uses waste gases from a Baosteel steel mill to produce ethanol.

About LanzaTech

Founded in 2005 in New Zealand and headquartered in Roselle, Illinois, LanzaTech has developed a novel gas-liquid fermentation process that produces low carbon fuels and chemicals from waste gas resources. Backed by global investment, LanzaTech has offices in the U.S., China and New Zealand and has a rapidly growing patent portfolio. With agreements now in place across a variety of sectors internationally, including steel, coal, refining and chemicals, LanzaTechs technology is being scaled to commercial production.