GranBio and Rhodia unite to produce biochemicals in Brazil

The GranBio, company controlled by investment holding family Gran Gradin, and Rhodia, Solvay, the Belgian group announced yesterday agreement for the production of biochemicals (developed from renewable raw materials) in Brazil. The two companies plan to build a factory, with 50% stake each, for the production of bio n-butanol, which is used on a large scale by chemical industries. The product will be made from straw and bagasse of sugar cane.
The companies failed to disclose the values that will be invested in this operation. In a statement, reported that the contributions will be approved by the Board of Directors of the two companies. The formation of this joint venture will be subject to evaluation of the Administrative Council for economic Defense (Cade).
This unit, which will be built in the southeast of the country, is due to come into operation from 2015, with a capacity of 100 thousand tons per year. This will be the first factory in the world exclusively for biochemists. The value found that an investment in a plant of this size is estimated to be around $ 250 million, according to market sources.
The value, Bernardo Gradin, President of GranBio, said that this agreement marks the advance of GranBio and Rhodia in the manufacture of biochemicals from the same raw material used in the manufacture of second-generation ethanol. "This partnership represents the Union of two companies that complement each other," said the businessman, who already invests in the production of second-generation ethanol-the first unit of GranBio in the country is being built in Alagoas. The company is also a partner of the American Process Inc. (API), in the USA, which owns technologies for biochemical and biofuels production.
Butanol, also known as butyl alcohol, is a chemical compound used in the production of acrylates and Methacrylates, in addition to being used on a large scale by manufacturers of paints and solvents, Rhodia is the market leader in South America. The proposal of the two companies is to use renewable raw materials for the production of this raw material, said Vincent Kamel, President of Rhodia Coatis, global multi-industry business unit headquartered in Brazil. Rhodia had already announced the intention of producing bio n-butanol in Brazil last year and join forces with the GranBio will put those plans into practice faster.
The country is not self-sufficient in the production of butanol produced from fossil raw materials, whose demand for the year is estimated at 50 000 tonnes. The country imports two-thirds of your need. "Demand in Brazil by butanol has the potential to double in the coming years," said Kamel. The petrochemical pole of Camaçari (BA) should be one of the potential consumers of bio n-butanol. The two companies will benefit from already closed agreements with companies holding technologies.
The price of butanol in global market revolves around $ 1,800/ton. "We plan to produce the bio n-butanol at competitive prices," said Gradin. As well as the "shale gas (shale gas) changed the parameters of the American market, the businessman believes that biochemists can become a cheaper alternative in the country. "Products developed from biomass can be considered the new ' oil '".
The "route of ethanol" is already known in the chemical sector. Surging oil prices and call for "green" on the market have taken the industries to review its production model. Despite the expertise in renewable energy Brazil, alcohol plants reduced their appetite in partnerships with chemical groups. "The second-generation ethanol will ensure that market," said a source to the value.