Total JV Inaugurates Bioplastics Plant

摘要

Futerro, a 50-50 joint venture between Galactic (Brussels) and Total Petrochemicals, has inaugurated a previously announced bioplastics pilot plant at Escanaffles, Belgium. The partners will develop technology at the plant to produce polylactic acid (PLA) from renewable vegetable sources. Futerro is the first company to operate this type of unit in Europe. The plant has capacity for 1,500 m.t./year of PLA and represents an investment of ?15 million. The technology being tested at the plant comprises two main steps: preparation and purification of the monomer, lactide, from lactic acid, which is obtained by fermenting sugar, mainly from beet; and polymeriza- tion of the monomer to obtain biodegradable PLA granules.