Avantium N.V., a leader in renewable and circular polymer materials, has been awarded a €200,000 grant by the EU Horizon Europe program to participate in a consortium for the large-scale production of the biobased chemical 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF).

The consortium, consisting of 12 European partners and led by Michelin Engineered Polymers, aims to construct and operate an HMF Flagship Plant to demonstrate the wide range of applications for HMF. The project also plans to assess synergies with Avantium’s FDCA Flagship Plant.

HMF is a biobased chemical derived from sugars, such as fructose. Due to its versatility and ability to replace a broad range of conventionally produced building blocks, HMF serves as a key intermediate between biomass and biochemicals.

Despite its significant potential, there are currently no large-scale industrial processes to produce HMF. Michelin Engineered Polymers, specialized in developing advanced polymer materials, plans to engineer and construct an industrial-scale HMF plant under the grant program.

The grant consortium will also explore a wide range of bio-based sustainable applications for HMF. HMF can for example be used as an intermediate in the production of FDCA. This creates a direct link between Michelin's planned HMF plant and Avantium’s FDCA Technology. The foreseen synergies will help to create an integrated and sustainable European production ecosystem that reduces environmental impact and strengthens the economic resilience of the European chemical industry.

The consortium, known under the name CERISEA, has received a €20 million EU Horizon Europe grant in total. Michelin Engineered Polymers will lead the consortium, which includes Avantium and 10 other industry and academic organizations: IFP Energies Nouvelles, ADM Bazancourt SASU, ARKEMA, Kraton Chemical B.V., Université de Technologie de Compiègne (UTC), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), IFEU - Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung Heidelberg, Instituto Tecnológico del Embalaje, Transporte y Logística, Energieinstitut an der Johannes Kepler Universität Linz Verein, and Bioeconomy for Change.