High performing and safe solvent derived from cellulosic feedstocks
ReSolute Project aims to pave the way for the production, at full industrial scale, of novel, non-toxic and high performing solvent from wood biomass. The Chemical sector is today facing a number of challenges driving demand for higher performing and safer chemicals derived from biomass. In the meantime, in the face of declining demand for paper, the pulp and paper industry is actively exploring opportunities to diversify into new areas or business including bio-based chemicals. In response to these needs, Circa has developed, at demonstration scale, a proprietary process to produce a novel bio-paper sector. From LGO ca be derived a wide range of chemicals including solvents, specialty polymers, flavours & fragrances, pharmaceutical and agrochemical actives. Circa’s first commercial product – a novel solvent trademarked as Cyrene – has already been trialled by more than 400 compagnies and researchers across the world and, for a growing number of applications, outperforms traditional dipolar aprotic solvents such as NMP, DMF and DMAc, which are under intense regulatory pressure due to their toxicity. Building on Circa group’s unique experience gained over the last 10 years via its 4 pilots and its operating demonstration plant, one of ReSolute’s key objectives will be to build and successfully operate a first-of-its kind Flagship Cyrene plant. The biorefinery will be built in France on the Carling Saint-Avold platform site owned by Total. The Flagship plant is expected to be mainly fed with saw dust and have a nameplate capacity of 1,000 metric tonnes per year. To reach this ambitious target, ReSolute will bring together 11 key actors along the entire value chain and will look to valorize the main by-product (biochar) in the energy and activated carbon markets.