Milan, Italy and San Diego, California – Italian polymer manufacturer Versalis, US-based bio-engineering firm Genomatica, have advanced to pilot-scale production of bio-butadiene (bio-BDE) from renewable feedstock, the two companies announced on 16 Feb.

Versalis used this bio-BDE to make bio-rubber, specifically, bio-polybutadiene (bio-BR), said the Italian company, adding that the achievement could provide the rubber industry with an improved technological and sustainability footprint.

In this new process, butadiene is produced using “various types of sugars as feedstock, rather than the traditional use of hydrocarbon feedstocks”.

The two companies started the project in early 2013, setting up a Versalis majority-owned joint venture.

The JV, said the statement, intends to license the resulting technology from the newly-developed process.

Versalis and Genomatica have determined that 1,3-butanediol (1,3-BDO) was the most suitable intermediate to produce bio-BDE.

“Initial testing of the bio-BDE and bio-BR demonstrates good compatibility with industry standards,” said Versalis, adding that it would continue to test the bio-BDE with its other rubber and plastics downstream technologies such as SBR (styrene-butadiene rubber), SBS (styrene-butadiene-styrene rubber) and ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene-styrene).