Covestro has launched Bio4PURConti, an EU-funded project aiming to build the world’s first continuous production process for bio-based aniline. Covestro is coordinating the initiative as project lead.
Aniline is a key raw material in plastics and chemicals. It’s especially important for MDI, a core building block for polyurethanes. Producing it from fossil sources generates roughly 20 million tonnes of CO2 emissions each year worldwide.
Covestro already uses a bio-based process to cut that footprint. A tailored microorganism converts industrial sugars from plant biomass into an intermediate product through fermentation. A second step then uses chemical catalysis to turn that intermediate into aniline made entirely from plant-based carbon.
Bio4PURConti pushes the process further. Instead of the current fed-batch method, where materials are added and product harvested in stages, the project aims for continuous fermentation. This has never been done before for aniline production. It uses plant-based sugars, including those from hardwood biomass.
The resulting bio-based aniline is fully compatible with existing polyurethane supply chains. It meets MDI specifications without requiring downstream changes. The project will scale from lab tests to a 1.5 cubic metre semi-industrial demonstration. Work will happen at Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant in Ghent and at Covestro’s site in Leverkusen.
Dr. Markus Dugal, head of process technology at Covestro, called the project a landmark for industrial biotechnology. He said combining biology and engineering at scale could reshape how the world produces key materials.
The project brings together 10 partners across 7 countries, including universities and research centres in Germany, Belgium, Norway, France, Finland and Spain. It has a total budget of €8.4 million, with €7 million coming from EU funding. The project will run for 42 months.
Covestro produces more than one million tonnes of aniline annually, making it one of the world’s largest producers. The company says it’s well positioned to lead this shift toward more sustainable aniline production.
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- Source: https://worldbiomarketinsights.com/covestro-coordinates-eu-project-for-continuous-bio-based-aniline/
