Elevance Renewable Sciences and Enis Versalis chemical subsidiary will jointly develop and scale a new metathesis technology to produce biochemicals from vegetable oils.
The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding to form a partnership. They will assess the design and construction of the first ethylene metathesis-based production that will use renewable oils at Versalis Porto Marghera site in Italy, taking advantage of existing infrastructure and production streams.
According to the Feb. 6 announcement, the market applications of the future biochemicals production will include biolubricants, oilfield chemicals, personal care, detergents and cleaners.
Versalis CEO Daniele Ferrari notated that the agreement with Elevance will help Versalis petrochemical site to become more competitive and sustainable. In a Feb. 11 news release, Eni said it expects to make a 200 million (U.S. $272.8 million) investment in Porto Marghera to focus on optimization and reorganization of cracker utilities, energy saving and on a new green chemistry initiative with Elevance.
Italy-based Versalis manufactures and markets intermediates, polyethylene, styrenics and elastomers.
Woodridge, Ill.-based Elevance modifies vegetable oils with chemical catalyst technology to make specialty chemicals. The molecules combine the functional attributes of an olefin, typical of petrochemicals, and a monofunctional ester or acid, typical of biobased oleochemicals, into a single molecule. Specialty chemicals, olefins and oleochemicals produced at biorefineries that use the technology will be used in a variety of products, including lubricants and additives.
Commercial shipments began in 2013 from Elevances first biorefinery, a 180,000 metric tons per year joint venture with Wilmar International Ltd. in Gresik, Indonesia. Elevances Natchez, Miss., site is scheduled to be the companys second biorefinery with 280,000 metric tons capacity.