BIOBASED CHEMICALS
The product is now commercially available and REACH-registered in the 10-100 tonnes / year range .
Wider possibilities
AA is a key raw material in the production of several pigments but is also a fragrance precursor . Initial batches have already been converted into biobased indigo and Pili is now exploring additional markets . AA is just one or two chemical steps away from aniline , benzoic acids or phenols , enabling a broad catalogue of biobased aromatics in the future .
In 2024 , Covestro announced a pilot programme using a similar technology to produce biobased aniline . The company seeks to replace one of its key raw materials in polyurethane manufacturing with fermentation-derived biobased aniline , with support from the German government . As yet , Pili is not aware of the outcome .
In addition to biobased AA , Pili has also developed a second compound at industrial-scale : paraaminobenzoic acid ( PABA , 4-amino benzoic acid , CAS : 150-13-0 , Figure 2 ). PABA serves as a versatile precursor for a range of applications , including pharmaceuticals , sun care ingredients , and the production of dyes and pigments . The first 250 kg batch has been produced at 97 % purity , and part of this output will be used internally to manufacture highperformance pigments ,
The company has entered a new fundraising round in order to build its first production unit to meet the growing demand of biobased dyes and pigments , in particular indigo . While the price of biobased aromatics remains slightly higher than their conventional counterparts , economies of scale should significantly narrow the price gap within the next decade .
Different options for circular aromatics
Achieving fully circular aromatic chemistry remains challenging , with little likelihood that a single technology will become as universally applicable as petroleum distillation . However , multiple approaches show promise .
The mass balance approach could give access to BTX in a circular manner . However the value chain of chemical recycling still has to be developed and scaled up to unlock its full potential . Lignin-derived aromatics , currently at pilot scale , are likely to remain focused on highvalue fine chemical applications due to the complexity of the products generated during lignin depolymerisation .
Meanwhile , fermentation has proven its reliability in producing substituted aromatics derived from aminobenzoic acids . These compounds are now available at tonne-scale , paving the way for the development of a comprehensive catalogue of biobased aromatic chemicals tailored for speciality chemical applications . ●
J j
Guillaume Boissonnat-Wu
MANAGING DIRECTOR
PILI guillaume @ pili . bio www . pili . bio
52 SPECIALITY CHEMICALS MAGAZINE ESTABLISHED 1981