Covation Biomaterials begins production of bio-based spandex chemicals

Covation Biomaterials has begun commercial production of bio-based chemicals for spandex, polyurethane and other performance materials, marking a major scale-up milestone for its C4 platform. The company’s new 50,000-tonne-per-year facility in Qidong, China, produced its first commercial batches of Xatryx bioTHF and bioPTMEG in August.

Initial production includes PTMEG (polytetramethylene ether glycol) grades with molecular weights of 1,000, 1,800 and 2,000, all of which met the company’s targeted specifications.

PTMEG is an important chemical intermediate used in the production of spandex and other elastomeric materials. Covation Biomaterials produces its bio-based version from non-food biomass, including agricultural by-products such as corncobs.

The company has designed Xatryx bioPTMEG as a drop-in alternative to conventional fossil-derived PTMEG, meaning downstream manufacturers can potentially incorporate it into existing production systems without significant changes to their processes.

Covation Biomaterials says its bio-based PTMEG can deliver lower greenhouse-gas emissions than fossil-derived alternatives. However, the company notes that its current emissions and performance claims are based on internal testing.