DuPont builds on previous commercialization of 1,3-propanediol (PDO) to develop markets for FDME

August 29, 2018 | Case Study

In January 2016, DuPont and Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) announced a breakthrough process for producing furan dicarboxylic methyl ester (FDME), a high-purity derivative of furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), one of 12 plant-based building blocks identified by the U.S. Department of Energy that can be converted into high-value chemicals and materials. The platform is claimed to be more efficient and cost-competitive than traditional routes, making the molecule commercially viable. One of the first bio-based polymers under development is polytrimethylene furandicarboxylate (PTF), a near-drop-in to PET that can be used for similar downstream applications. After completing pilot-scale testing, DuPont and ADM opened a 60 tpa FDME demonstration facility in April 2018.