Groundbreaking Held for Clariant's Sunliquid® Cellulosic Ethanol Plant in Romania

Clariant has laid the foundation for its first industrial-scale facility for producing cellulosic ethanol from agricultural residues. The sunliquid technology developed by the company will be used at industrial scale in this plant. The foundation stone ceremony, held near the city of Podari in southwestern Romania, was attended by Romanian government officials, Swiss Ambassador Urs Herren, and a Clariant delegation led by Executive Board Member Christian Kohlpaintner. Cellulosic ethanol, an advanced, sustainable and practically carbon-neutral biofuel, is obtained from agricultural residues such as wheat straw and corn cob supplied by farmers. The straw and cob are first converted into cellulosic sugars. Cellulosic ethanol is then obtained through fermentation. By using agricultural residues in cellulosic ethanol production, it will be possible to utilize new raw materials in biofuel production and contribute to the efficiency and sustainability of biofuels. Cellulosic sugars also serve as a building block for the production of bio-based chemicals in the future.