Toray Industries, located in Tokyo, has raised its ownership position in a joint venture with a Thai partner as it seeks to increase the commercialization of important nylon 6,6 polymer intermediates made from non-edible biomass.
Together with its partner Mitsui DM Sugar Co., Toray established Cellulosic Biomass Technology (CBT) in 2017. Toray has now increased its share in the subsidiary from 67% to 84.4% by investing an additional 1.2 billion (US$8.2 million).
The Bangkok-based company has been researching cellulosic sugar production technology and has created a 100% bio-adipic acid, the primary ingredient in nylon 66 (polyamide 66), by combining chemical purification technology with separation membranes.
The Bangkok-based company has been researching cellulosic sugar production technology and has created a 100% bio-adipic acid, the primary ingredient in nylon 66 (polyamide 66), by combining chemical purification technology with separation membranes.
Toray claims that this is the first time in history that adipic acid has been developed using sugar obtained from non-edible biomass. The creation of nitrous oxide, which is a problem when making adipic acid using standard chemical synthesis techniques, is also avoided by this production process.
The business stated in a statement that nylon 66 “has excellent durability, strength, and rigidity, and has been used for many years as a fiber and resin for a variety of purposes.” “Environmentally friendly nylon 66 has recently been developed with growing awareness of realizing a sustainable society. Which is more and more in demand.
By scaling up and moving forward with nylon 66 polymerization trial production, production technology development, and market research, CBT will be able to move closer to its 2030 target date for commercialization. The present goal is to produce around 100,000 metric tons of cellulosic sugar annually.
The funding will also be used to build new facilities at CBT to create cellulosic sugar from cassava pulp, enhancing an existing system for making the sugar from bagasse.
With Toray also adding boilers that can burn biomass fuels and increasing wastewater treatment capacity to cut utility costs in the manufacture of cellulose sugar, this will expand the production capacity of this sugar to five metric tons per day.
Bagasse is the fibrous, dry, pulpy substance that is left over after the juice from sugarcane or sorghum stalks has been extracted. For the generation of heat, energy, and electricity as well as for the creation of pulp and construction materials, it serves as a biofuel.
