The technology has the potential to reduce the environmental footprint and the cost of producing MEG, one of the components used to make the company’s plant-based PET plastic bottle.
Dave Law, CEO, Liquid Light, told FoodProductionDaily, the company will be constructing and starting up a Pilot Plant in 2016 at an undisclosed location in Canada and the first commercial scale plant is planned for 2020.
Commercially-important multi-carbon chemicals
“Liquid Light has the only technology that produces MEG from carbon dioxide, an abundant and low cost waste product from many industrial processes,” he said.
“For example, by using the carbon dioxide from a corn to ethanol plant facility, we can not only produce a bio-based MEG, but provide a monetization of the waste carbon dioxide stream typically found in such facilities.”
Law said its core technology is centered on low-energy catalytic electrochemistry to convert carbon dioxide to chemicals, combined with hydrogenation and purification operations.
By adjusting the design of its catalyst, its technology can produce MEG plus a range of commercially-important multi-carbon chemicals.
“The joint development agreement (JDA) will further drive the development of Liquid Lights’ technology for the production of bio-based MEG for use in plastic bottles,” he added.
“The technical and financial support from Coca-Cola provides an important backbone to the scale-up of our technology.
“We cannot speak on behalf of Coca-Cola or about specifics related to its PlantBottle Program. However, from Liquid Light’s research, Bio-MEG production utilizing the Liquid Light technology is anticipated to be 15%-25% cost advantaged to existing bio-MEG production costs at full scale.”
Liquid Light develops and licenses process technology to make major chemicals from low-cost, carbon dioxide (CO2).
The technology is backed by more than 100 patents and applications
Chemical producers have the potential for lower costs and greater sustainability; firms with waste CO2, like ethanol producers, can turn that waste into revenue; and brands that use large amounts of plastics in their packaging can offer a more sustainably-packaged product.
The company’s first process is for the production of MEG, with a $27bn annual market.
The technology is backed by more than 100 patents and applications, and extends to multiple chemicals with large existing markets, including ethylene glycol, propylene, isopropanol, and acetic acid.
Investors include VantagePoint Capital Partners, BP Ventures, Chrysalix Energy Venture Capital, Osage University Partners and Sustainable Conversion Ventures.
“The purpose of the agreement is to accelerate the development of Liquid Light’s technology,” said Law.
“Over the next few years, as Liquid Light optimizes and scales up its bio-MEG production capability, we have the potential to become a key supplier into this growing market for plant based PET.”
FoodProductionDaily has contacted The Coca-Cola Company for comment.