Biobased acrylonitrile progresses

Trillium Renewable Chemicals has raised $13 million in a Series B financing round led by HS Hyosung Advanced Materials with participation from Capricorn Partners. This will go towards Project Falcon, the world’s first demonstration plant for the manufacture of 100% biobased acrylonitrile, which is located within Ineos Nitriles’ facility at Green Lake, Texas.

Following a pilot programme validating the technology, construction of Project Falcon is complete. Commissioning is scheduled for Q2 with product shipments to follow later this year. Trillium will then advance engineering and development of its first commercial-scale manufacturing plant alongside strategic partners and customers. 

Trillium states that its process uses a drop-in, plant-based alternative that does not require any changes to downstream supply chains. The world acrylonitrile market is more than 6 million tonnes/year, with applications in such areas as carbon fibres, plastic, textiles, flocculants and synthetic rubber.