A joint venture between Corbion Purac and BASF has started up in Spain for the production and commercialisation of bio-based succinic acid.

Succinity GmbH's plant, located at the Corbion Purac site in Montmeló, Spain, has an annual capacity of 10,000 tonnes and also plans a second large-scale facility once the initial plant proves successful.

“The start-up of our first facility for Succinity bio-based succinic acid represents a key milestone in our plan to become a major producer of bio-based succinic acid in the future,” said Philipp Walter, managing director of Succinity. “The combined experiences of the team in Montmeló and the support from Corbion Purac and BASF have ensured the achievement of this important milestone within schedule. With the facility in Spain we will be able to serve the growing succinic acid market.”

The Succinity process is based on renewable raw materials and fixes carbon dioxide. The proprietary microorganism Basfia succiniciproducens allows for a flexible usage of different feedstocks. Furthermore, Succinity bio-based succinic acid can be produced efficiently without major waste streams thanks to a closed-loop process, claims the company.

BASF and Corbion Purac have been working on the development of bio-based succinic acid since 2009.