DuPont’s DD business division, DuPont Industrial Biosciences, and Archer Daniels Midland Company ADM have unveiled a breakthrough technology which can help generate high-performance renewable materials. The technology has applications in packaging, textiles, engineering plastics and many other industries.
Together, DuPont and Archer Daniels have designed a method for producing furan dicarboxylic methyl ester (“FDME”) from fructose. FDME has been approved by the U.S. Department of Energy and can be transformed into several high-value, bio-based chemicals or materials that can deliver high performance in a number of applications.
Moreover, FDME has been a long sought-after and researched molecule. However, it was not commercially available at an affordable cost. The latest FDME technology surpasses conventional approaches as it is a simple and fast method, leading to higher yields, lower energy usage and reduced capital expenditures.
According to Simon Herriott, global business director for biomaterials at DuPont, the molecule will prove to be a game-changing platform technology. It will help produce a variety of 100% renewable, high-performance chemicals and polymers at affordable costs, with applications across a wide range of industries.
Additionally, DuPont is encouraged by this partnership with Archer Daniels as the latter is considered to be ideal for jointly developing this new, renewable supply chain for FDME.
Polytrimethylene furandicarboxylate (“PTF”) is one of the first polymers to be developed using FDME. It is a 100% renewable and recyclable polymer, which can be used to make bottles and other beverage packages with improved gas-barrier properties compared to other polyesters. Thus, PTF is a useful option for customers in the beverage packaging industry as it ensures better shelf life for their products.
Further, FDME aids the development of better performing products from sustainable, bio-based starting materials. Thus, DuPont and Archer Daniels are the pioneers in bringing FDME to the market by progressing on the scale-up phase of the project. Both the companies intend to build an integrated 60 ton-per-year demonstration plant in Decatur, IL, to provide potential customers with sufficient product quantities for testing and research.
DuPont’s shares fell 1.6% to close at $53.22 on Jan 19.
DuPont currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
Better-ranked companies in the diversified chemical space include Koninklijke DSM N.V. RDSMY, sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and Axiall Corporation AXLL, carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
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Click to get this free report DU PONT (EI) DE (DD): Free Stock Analysis Report KONINKLIJKE DSM (RDSMY): Free Stock Analysis Report ARCHER DANIELS (ADM): Free Stock Analysis Report AXIALL CORP (AXLL): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research