BioAmber Opens World’s Largest Bio-succinic Acid Manufacturing Facility in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada: Renewable & Greener Alternatives to Petrochemicals That are Derived from Oil, Which Can Be Used in Everyday Products Including Plastics, Food Additives & Personal Care Products

The following video presents BioAmber Corporate Video:

“BioAmber is a sustainable chemicals company producing commercial quantities of bio-based succinic acid. As global markets increasingly demand sustainable, viable and performance solutions, BioAmber is pioneering the development of a global, 100% low-carbon integrated supply chain.”

Recently, Deputy Premier Deb Matthews and BioAmber (a Montreal-based chemicals company) celebrated the official opening of the world’s largest bio-succinic acid manufacturing facility in the heart of the Sarnia-Lambton chemistry cluster.

How bio-succinic acid is made: "We use renewable feedstocks (sugars) instead of fossil fuels and apply industrial biotechnology (fermentation) using our proprietary yeast, which consumes sugar and CO2 to produce succinic acid. We then recover and purify the succinic acid and use conventional chemistry to convert the succinic acid into 1,4 Butanediol and disodium succinate." Image Courtesy of BioAmber — How bio-succinic acid is made: “We use renewable feedstocks (sugars) instead of fossil fuels and apply industrial biotechnology (fermentation) using our proprietary yeast, which consumes sugar and CO2 to produce succinic acid. We then recover and purify the succinic acid and use conventional chemistry to convert the succinic acid into 1,4 Butanediol and disodium succinate.” Image Courtesy of BioAmber

The $141.5 million plant will produce sustainable chemicals which are renewable, greener alternatives to petrochemicals that are derived from oil.

Sustainability Life Cycle Analysis: A Carbon Neutral Footprint. Image Courtesy of BioAmber

Sustainability Life Cycle Analysis

A Carbon Neutral Footprint

“BioAmber is committed to producing chemicals in a more environmentally responsible manner. By using renewable feedstock, eliminating green house gas emissions and substantially reducing energy consumption, we are practicing greener chemistry that is sustainable. When our Sarnia plant begins production in 2015, it will have an impressive carbon footprint relative to the existing method of producing succinic acid from petroleum. Our bio-based process for making succinic acid will result in a 100% reduction in green house gas emissions and a 60% reduction in energy consumption.”

The sustainable chemicals can be used in a variety of everyday products including plastics, food additives and personal care products.

Currently, the plant has created 60 high value jobs.

Sustainability feedstock development

Feedstock Flexibility

“BioAmber is focused on using the most abundant, low cost sugar available, but we are also conscious of the need to be as sustainable as possible. Today, North American corn offers the most competitively priced sugar, making our succinic acid even more cost competitive. We can also use sugar from cane, beets, sorghum, wheat and tapioca to produce succinic acid. Our longer-term goal is to move to agricultural, forestry and eventually industrial waste as alternatives to traditional sugars.”

Sustainability Feedstock Development: Feedstock Flexibility. "While these second and third generation sugars are not commercially available today, BioAmber is working to ensure it has the flexibility to move to these alternative feedstocks when they become economical and available in commercial quantities. Our proprietary yeast developed with Cargill has the ability to efficiently consume xylose, the principal sugar that is obtained from hemi-cellulose, a major component of agricultural and forestry waste. We are actively screening sugars produced by various new technologies in an effort to determine those that will offer legitimate alternatives to first generation sugars. We are also engaged in a research program with Canada’s National Research Counsel that is developing a new organism that can consume methane or methanol instead of sugar and produce succinic acid. Methane and methanol are expected to be widely available and inexpensive byproducts of the shale gas boom." Image Courtesy of BioAmber — Sustainability Feedstock Development: Feedstock Flexibility. “While these second and third generation sugars are not commercially available today, BioAmber is working to ensure it has the flexibility to move to these alternative feedstocks when they become economical and available in commercial quantities. Our proprietary yeast developed with Cargill has the ability to efficiently consume xylose, the principal sugar that is obtained from hemi-cellulose, a major component of agricultural and forestry waste. We are actively screening sugars produced by various new technologies in an effort to determine those that will offer legitimate alternatives to first generation sugars. We are also engaged in a research program with Canada’s National Research Counsel that is developing a new organism that can consume methane or methanol instead of sugar and produce succinic acid. Methane and methanol are expected to be widely available and inexpensive byproducts of the shale gas boom.” Image Courtesy of BioAmber

For more info about BioAmber’s greener, sustainable products and biotechnology, please visit http://www.bio-amber.com/ .

The plant will be in full commercial operation in Q3 2015, and will have a capacity to annually produce 30,000 metric tons of bio-succinic acid.

NEWS RELEASE

BioAmber Opens New Plant in Sarnia

Ontario Supporting Next Generation Manufacturers

August 6, 2015 11:00 A.M.
Ministry of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure

Today Deputy Premier Deb Matthews celebrated the official opening of Ontario’s newest next generation manufacturing facility in Sarnia.

BioAmber, a Montreal-based chemicals company, along with partner Mitsui, officially opened the world’s largest bio-succinic acid manufacturing facility in the heart of the Sarnia-Lambton chemistry cluster. The $141.5 million plant will produce sustainable chemicals from agricultural feedstock that can be used in a variety of everyday products including plastics, food additives and personal care products. Currently, the plant has created 60 high value jobs.

The province supported the plant with a $15 million loan through the Strategic Jobs and Investment Fund. The new plant is an anchor for the Sarnia-Lambton chemistry cluster and will raise the profile of Ontario as a world leader in the biochemical sector.

Ensuring Ontario is a world leader in next generation manufacturing is part of the government’s plan to build Ontario up. The four-part plan includes investing in people’s talents and skills, making the largest investment in public infrastructure in Ontario’s history, creating a dynamic, innovative environment where business thrives, and building a secure retirement savings plan.

Quick Facts

The plant will be in full commercial operation in Q3 2015, and will have a capacity to annually produce 30,000 metric tons of bio-succinic acid.
Bio-succinic acid can be used as an alternative to petrochemicals that are derived from oil.
Global competition for manufacturing in all sectors is fierce and BioAmer looked at more than 100 sites around the world before choosing Sarnia for its new plant.
BioAmber secured a $15 million loan from the Ministry of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure is providing support in the form of a Strategic Jobs and Investment Fund in September 2011.

Additional Resources

Quotes

“Today’s official opening is proof of Ontario’s commitment to the next generation of manufacturers. Ontario is proud to be supporting businesses that bring high value jobs and innovative technology to the province.”
Brad Duguid
Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure

“The opening of the BioAmber Sarnia facility is key to the development of Sarnia’s unique bio-industrial complex, delivering good jobs, significant exports, and diverse markets for Ontario farmers with the full support of the Government of Ontario.”
Deb Matthews
Deputy Premier, President of the Treasury Board and Minister Responsible for the Poverty Reduction Strategy

“After looking at more than 100 potential sites, we chose Sarnia for this significant investment. We are excited for this facility to begin operation to help us supply our customers in the US, EU and Asia during this period of rapid growth.”
JF Huc
President and CEO, BioAmber Inc.