Invista partners with Lanza Tech for bio-based butadiene

Specialty chemicals developer Invista and biotechnology firm Lanza Tech have signed a joint venture to develop bio-based butadiene.

According to the agreement, Wichita, Kan.-based Invista and Roselle, Ill.-based LanzaTech will collaborate on projects to develop one-step and two-step technologies to convert industrial waste gas carbon monoxide into butadiene. Butadiene is an important intermediate chemical used in the production of synthetic rubber and various plastics.

Initial commercialization is expected in 2016.

The collaboration will focus on the production of butadiene in a two-step process from LanzaTech CO-derived 2,3-butanediol. A direct single step process will also be developed to produce butadiene directly through a process of gas fermentation.

The two companies will be working for the direct production of other industrial chemicals, including nylon intermediates, from carbon monoxide containing waste gases, utilizing LanzaTech’s gas fermentation technology and proprietary biochemical platform.

“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,” Bill Greenfield, executive vice president of Invista’s nylon intermediates business, said in a statement