Covestro is moving forward with the implementation of a unique process for producing the important chemical aniline entirely based on plant biomass instead of petroleum for the first time. The plastics manufacturer has made a seven-digit investment in a special pilot plant at its Leverkusen, Germany, site
for this purpose. Initially, large quantities of bio-based aniline will be produced there, so that the new technology can be further developed for production at an industrial scale. In the plastics industry, aniline is used to produce MDI, among other things. This in turn is used for insulating foam, for example, which saves energy in buildings and reduces the CO2 footprint. Covestro believes it will contribute to the promotion of the circular economy, which the company is aiming to become fully aligned with.
“Among other things, aniline is a key raw material for foams used to insulate buildings and refrigerators,” said Dr. Thorsten Dreier, chief technology officer, Covestro. “Until now, aniline has been produced from fossil raw materials such as petroleum, which releases CO2 and fuels climate change. With our new process, we are contributing to building up a circular, bio-based economy, and I am very proud that we have now succeeded in making the jump to the next technological level.”