TotalEnergies works on biomass conversion solutions
In France, TotalEnergies reported that the firm is actively working on all biomass conversion solutions with the aim of achieving its ambition of becoming a leader in biofuels and developing innovative bioplastics.
The French firm said it is currently involved in the two main biomass conversion pathways, which are thermochemical conversion, which enables biomass to be transformed into a wide range of molecules through the combined action of pressure, temperature and often a catalyst, and biotechnology, which uses microorganisms, such as yeast, bacteria or microalgae that are capable of converting both plant matter and inorganic carbon (CO/CO2) into target molecules.
“These two pathways are flexible and can be used separately or together to produce a wide array of products from a variety of resources. However, many challenges still lie ahead. The bioproducts currently available on the market are mainly produced from vegetable oils and sugars. The conversion of resources such as lignocellulose (plant waste) or microalgae (microorganisms that can directly transform CO2 and light into molecules of interest for our markets) is still in the R&D stage,” the company said.
“On the bioplastics market, we are developing innovative products that meet the challenges of sustainable development and enable our customers to embrace more conscientious consumption. We are focusing particularly on polylactic acid (PLA), a polymer produced from sugar and starch crops with an environmental footprint one third that of conventional polymers,” TotalEnergies added.
Category: Research
