Process Design Center

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Avantium / Coca-Cola

PDC's client Avantium, a research and technology company based in Amsterdam, announced an agreement with The Coca-Cola Company for the further development of Avantium's YXY technology for producing PEF bottles. PEF is a new biobased plastic with exceptional functional properties, produced from renewable carbohydrate feedstock. It can therefore be considered a more sustainable alternative for conventional PET.

Since 2009 PDC successfully contributed to the development of Avantium's YXY technology with the structured conceptual process design of the pilot plant and full-scale production facility. Our economic evaluations show that the main building block FDCA (2,5-Furandicarboxylic acid), can be produced at a competitive price. One of the first milestones is the opening of Avantium's YXY pilot plant in Geleen, the Netherlands, on 8 December 2011.

Avantium recognizes that PDC's conceptual design support not only serves as a blue print for the basic designs and economic estimates, but also highly contributes to their R&D.

Links:
Press release by the Coca Cola Company
Nieuwsuur uitzending 15 December 2011

PDC developed new terephthalic acid (PTA) process using a heterogeneous catalyst

PDC developed a new PTA process, for which we reached "Proof of Principle" with ECN at the end of 2011. The technology makes use of a heterogeneous zeolite catalyst , which encapsulates a catalytic complex, and avoids the use of corrosive solvents like acetic acid, which is applied in conventional technology. The technology exploits the phase behavior of the system p-xylene - water - terephthalic acid at elevated temperatures to keep the terephthalic acid in solution. This lead to a totally new process concept with a breakthrough in process economics and product quality. Patents for the novel catalyst and process have been filed and granted in several countries (WO 2006/068471 A1, WO 2006/068472 A1).

Links:
PTA Non-confidential status report

Refinery study for the Netherlands Petroleum Industry Association (VNPI) and AgentschapNL

In 2011 PDC successfully completed a study to consolidate the possibilities to improve processes and energy efficiency of the Dutch refinery sector until 2030. The study, conducted for the Netherlands Petroleum Industry Association (VNPI) and AgentschapNL, evaluates the opportunities for application of new technologies in the existing refineries and provides an estimate of potential energy savings for the refinery sector in the Netherlands. From bilateral technical meetings with the Dutch refineries aggregated conclusions are drawn about potential savings and conditions or bottlenecks for implementation of new technologies and energy saving projects.

Links:
Report "Consolidatie Procesverbeteringen Raffinaderijen 2030" (Dutch)