Succinity Produces First Commercial Quantities of Bio-Based Succinic Acid

Succinity GmbH, the joint venture between Corbion Purac and BASF for the production and commercialization of bio-based succinic acid, has announced the successful start-up of its first commercial production facility. The plant, located at the Corbion Purac site in Montmeló, Spain, has an annual capacity of 10,000 metric tons and is producing commercial quantities of bio-based succinic acid for the global market. In addition to this first facility, Succinity plans a second large-scale facility. The final investment decision for this facility will be made following a successful market introduction.

“The start-up of our first facility for Succinity bio-based succinic acid represents a key milestone in our plan to become a major producer of biobased succinic acid in the future,” comments Philipp Walter, Managing Director of Succinity. “The combined experiences of the team in Montmeló and the support from Corbion Purac and BASF have ensured the achievement of this important milestone within schedule. With the facility in Spain we will be able to serve the growing succinic acid market.”

The Succinity process is based on renewable raw materials and fixes carbon dioxide. The proprietary micro-organism Basfia succiniciproducens allows for a flexible usage of different feedstocks. Furthermore, Succinity bio-based succinic acid can be produced efficiently without major waste streams thanks to a closed-loop process. An elaborate downstream processing method ensures the production of high quality biobased succinic acid.

Based on technological advances and an increased need for renewable intermediates in different application fields, BASF and Corbion Purac have been working on the development of bio-based succinic acid since 2009. Bio-based succinic acid features a significantly improved carbon footprint compared to conventional, fossil-based succinic acid or other dicarboxylic acids. Bio-based succinic acid is a versatile building block with a significant market potential in the chemical intermediates market. It can be used in a variety of potential applications, such as bio-polymers (e.g. Polybutylene succinate, PBS), polyurethanes, coatings and life science products.