Cargill, Helm partner on US renewable butanediol plant

US-based trading firm Cargill and Germany-based distribution firm Helm plan to set up a joint venture to build a renewable butanediol (BDO) project in the US with a targeted start-up in 2024.

The project has licensed bio-based Genomatica process technology for the proposed plant that will be located at Cargill's existing biotechnology campus in Eddyville, Iowa. BDO is used in manufacturing in a range of industries including textiles and pharmaceuticals.

Both companies have pledged a combined $300mn of investment for the project, with Cargill supplying the feedstock and providing its manufacturing expertise to produce an expected 65,000 t/yr of its bio-based BDO.

The project aims to meet a projected increase in demand for more "sustainable products", given that the plant's bio-based process can limit greenhouse gas emissions compared with conventional fossil-based chemical intermediates, the companies said.

By Leanne Tan