Green ChemicaI Inc.
Demonstration project for industrial production technology of non-edible biomass-derived

Program name

Deep-Tech Startups Support Program in the Green Transformation field

Research theme

Demonstration project for industrial production technology of non-edible biomass-derived

Business Plan

Aiming to contribute to a sustainable society through the production of bioplastics, this project focuses on developing industrial production and application technologies for aromatic furan-based chemicals, including hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), a key chemical intermediate, and 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), a precursor for bioplastics. These chemicals are derived from sugars produced from abundant yet underutilized non-edible biomass resources such as pulp and rice husks.

Research Outline

In this project, we aim to develop a continuous flow process for the low-cost and stable production of highperformance resin precursors, including HMF, FDCA, and related furan-based chemicals, from biomass-derived sugars. By realizing functionalities that differ from those of conventional petroleum-based materials, this project seeks to address challenges in decarbonization and value enhancement in the chemical materials sector. Furthermore, by achieving the following proof-of-concept (PoC) milestones, we aim to establish the commercialization of biomass-derived aromatic chemicals and a manufacturing licensing business model:

1. Scale-up demonstration of a continuous flow process for FDCA production from glucose (1 ton/year scale), in collaboration with Soken Chemical & Engineering Co., Ltd., and acquisition of production data
2. Optimization of catalysts and reaction conditions to achieve low-cost and high-efficiency production
3. Application evaluation and prototype development of furan-based chemicals and related polymers
   (e.g., adhesives, plasticizers, packaging materials)

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