Qore launches biobased 14-BDO

Cargill-Helm joint venture Qore has completed a $300 million facility at Eddyville, Iowa, that will make 66,000 tonnes/year of the Qira brand of biobased 1,4-butanediol (BDO) via the fermentation of dent corn sourced mainly from farms within about 160 km. This was celebrated at an opening event on 22 July.

The company describes Qira as an identical replacement to fossil-derived BDO that can readily drop in to manufacturing processes across multiple industries, including personal care, fashion and footwear, automotive and electronics, and packaging. 

BASF had already secured a long-term supply agreement to incorporate Qira into its existing derivatives portfolio in 2023, while the Lycra Company is adopting it into its eponymous fibres. According to a study by Ramboll, this will reduce the material’s carbon footprint by up to 44% compared to fossil-based alternatives.