JM Davy and Rennovia in collaboration on bio-based glucaric acid and adipic acid technology project

Johnson Matthey Davy Technologies Ltd. (JM Davy), an advanced process technologies company and Rennovia, Inc., a producer of chemicals from renewable feedstocks, have announced they are teaming up to undertake a start-to-finish catalytic process technologies project.

The companies will develop, demonstrate and commercialise the project, which will concentrate on the production of bio-based glucaric acid and adipic acid.

Together, the aim is to create and jointly license a technology package that allows these chemical products to be produced on a commercial level.  

Rennovia will implement their technology, which consists of the catalytic aerobic oxidation of glucose to glucaric acid, and the catalytic hydrogenation of glucaric acid to adipic acid. 

JM Davy and Rennovia hope that the project will enable the delivery of technology that can produce ‘a bio-based adipic acid equivalent to the petroleum-based product, at a lower cost, and with a significantly improved environmental footprint,’ the two said in a statement.

Alongside this, the production of glucaric acid is a relatively new one that can be used in ‘detergent, de-icing, cement, and anti-corrosion markets’.

The technology aims to be ‘scalable, less capital-intensive, and cost-advantaged over current petrochemical processes,’ added Robert Wedinger, President and CEO of Rennovia.