French tyre manufacturing major, Michelin, has declared that its biomaterials platform, Michelin Engineered Polymers, will construct an first industrial demonstration unit for biobased chemical – 5-HMF, also called 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural.
5-HMF is a platform molecule with more than one possible derivatives. It is bio-sourced and non-toxic, permitting it to replace elements sourced from crude oil or those of concern. It is known as the “Sleeping Giant” because of its versatility and its ability to replace a extensive variety of conventional molecules. This molecule is received from fructose that has been converted using green chemistry techniques.
Despite its large capacity, there are currently no large-scale industrial strategies to provide HMF. The European 5-HMF market is still rising, because the molecule is produced completely in Asia, in very small quantities, and it remains prohibitive for industrial uses.
The demo unit could be constructed by a Michelin Engineered Polymers-led consortium – CERISEA or ‘Competitive manufacturing of HMF and derivatives for an Eco-designed and Resilient Industry in the direction of Sustainable European Autonomy’
The consortium includes renewable chemical firm, Avantium and 10 other industry and academic companies: IFP Energies Nouvelles, ADM Bazancourt SASU, Arkema, Kraton Chemical, Université de Technologie de Compiègne (UTC), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), IFEU – Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung Heidelberg, Instituto Tecnológico del Embalaje, Transporte y Logística, Energieinstitut an der Johannes Kepler Universität Linz Verein, and Bioeconomy for Change.
The demo unit, which will be located on the Osiris platform in Péage en Roussillon, France, will have an annual manufacturing capability of 3,000 metric tons, making this site largest and the most important production site in the world for 5-HMF. This venture represents a total investment of Euro 60-mn, so that it will be partly subsidised by France and European organizations. It is predicted to start activities all through 2026.
Already used in the manufacture of non-toxic adhesive resins developed via Michelin ResiCare, 5-HMF allows these resins to lessen operator and customer exposure to harmful products. The manufacturing of this initial industrial scale unit will allow for safeguarding Michelin ResiCare’s supply and for reducing costs. It also paves the way for the marketing of recent substances in lots of sectors, together with cosmetics, agriculture, industry, production, shipping, aeronautics, or electronics, as well as in many other fields of application. The projects released demonstrate a potential market of over 40,000 metric tons by 2030.
Provision has been made for 20,000-metric ton units to be duplicated thru a license system, in order to develop a manufacturing network for this bio-sourced molecule, in conjunction with the venture’s industrial partners.
“The release of this initisl unit in France, to provide a bio-sourced molecule important for green chemistry, is a major milestone for taking Resicare’s activities to an industrials scale. Created at Michelin in 2016, this start-up at the cutting edge of innovation might be able to accelerate the development of its high-overall performance and non-toxic resin offers for manufacturers,” stated Ms. Maude Portigliatti, Director of the Polymer Composite Solutions department at Michelin and a Member of the Group’s Executive Committee.
Michelin started to explore options to formaldehyde and resorcinol in the adhesive resins supposed for its tyres as of 2008. In 2013, a technology for tyre applications become evolved, without the usage of 5-HMF. In 2016, 5-HMF become incorporated into the Michelin ResiCare formulae for resins intended for uses other than tyres, and first of all for plyboard, after figuring out a supply at a small quantity and a excessive price. After an initial attempt with another accomplice, Michelin joined forces with the IFPEN in 2021 to develop a better manufacturing method from fructose, with exams on various scales and engineering studies till the end of 2023.
Today, although it is not presently used in tyres, 5-HMF is in all the new Michelin ResiCare formulations, which includes for plyboard, abrasives, and moulded components.
