{"id":171719,"date":"2025-12-17T07:37:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T06:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/?p=171719"},"modified":"2025-12-16T16:05:07","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T15:05:07","slug":"michelin-ifpen-and-axens-announce-successful-progress-in-biobutterfly-rd-project-the-most-mature-technology-to-produce-biobased-butadiene-from-bioethanol","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/michelin-ifpen-and-axens-announce-successful-progress-in-biobutterfly-rd-project-the-most-mature-technology-to-produce-biobased-butadiene-from-bioethanol\/","title":{"rendered":"Michelin, IFPEN, and Axens Announce Successful Progress in BioButterfly\u2122 R&D Project: the most mature technology to produce biobased butadiene from bioethanol"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
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\u00a9 2025 Axens<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Mature Technology: BioButterfly\u2122 is currently the most advanced technology for producing biobased butadiene from bioethanol, with a favorable carbon footprint. The industrial demonstrator launched in July 2023 in Bassens confirmed the robustness of the process using both first and second-generation bioethanol.\u00a0
\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Validated Industrial Applications: The biobased butadiene was successfully used to synthesize BR and SBR rubber, meeting high-quality specifications for demanding industrial applications, particularly in the tire sector.\u00a0
\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Commercialization by 2026: The R&D phase is on track to be completed in the coming months, with technology homologation to follow shortly after. This milestone paves the way for global commercialization, supported by partners Michelin, IFPEN, and Axens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michelin, IFPEN, and Axens are pleased to announce significant advancements in the BioButterfly\u2122 project, supported by ADEME, R\u00e9gion Nouvelle Aquitaine and Bordeaux Metropole, which aims to produce bio-based butadiene from bioethanol. Following the startup of the first industrial-scale demonstrator in July 2023, the project has achieved several key milestones, reinforcing the viability of this innovative technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The BioButterfly\u2122 project has successfully tested on the demo-plant both bioethanol and advanced bioethanol (second generation ethanol) as feedstocks for producing bio-based butadiene, guaranteeing a 100% bio-sourced origin. The performance of both sources has been confirmed, demonstrating the flexibility and adaptability of the process to utilize diverse bioethanol inputs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a significant development, the butadiene produced at the demonstration plant has been used to synthesize butadiene rubber (BR) and styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) in a polymerization unit. The process was successful, marking a crucial step in validating the application of bio-based butadiene in the production of synthetic rubbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The butadiene produced has been confirmed to meet stringent polymer grade specifications, ensuring its suitability for high-quality. This achievement underscores the potential of bio-based butadiene as a sustainable alternative to its fossil-based counterpart production with a more favorable carbon footprint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The R&D phase of the BioButterfly\u2122 project is on track to become the most advanced technology on the market<\/strong>, developed via a demonstration plant to de-risk the scale-up and bring operational feedback to the future plant owners. The partners are focused on achieving technology homologation by mid-2026, paving the way for the commercialization of this groundbreaking process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The successful progress of the BioButterfly\u2122 project highlights the commitment of Michelin, IFPEN, and Axens to fostering a sustainable and bio-based synthetic elastomer industry. The partners are dedicated to continuing their collaboration to bring this innovative technology to market, supporting the global transition to renewable resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“As we continue to make strides in the BioButterfly\u2122 project, we are proud to see our collaborative efforts with Michelin and IFPEN come to fruition. The successful demonstration of our technology marks a pivotal moment in the journey towards sustainable, bio-based butadiene production. The insights gained will help mitigate risks and enhance the efficiency and benefits of the process for our future customers”\u00a0Jacinthe Frecon<\/strong>, VP Process and Equipment Innovation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“At Michelin, we see innovation as a collective adventure. Most of the new materials we need for our tires do not exist yet or are not available at an industrial scale. BioButterfly\u2122 is a perfect example of how we can, together with partners, turn bold ideas into renewable materials for tomorrow”\u00a0Cyril Dupuch<\/strong>, Vice President, Materials Research & Development at Michelin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IFPEN is proud to play a pivotal role in the BioButterfly\u2122 project, in partnership with Axens and Michelin. Leveraging cutting-edge expertise in green chemistry, this collaboration focuses on creating value through the production of sustainable, bio-based butadiene. As we progress towards industrial-scale innovation, BioButterfly showcases the strength of partnerships in transforming bold ideas into renewable solutions, setting the stage for a more sustainable and environmentally conscious future in the chemical and rubber industries, so No\u00ebmie Dos Santos-Tabbakh<\/strong>, Head of Strategic Bio-based Chemistry R&D at IFPEN.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Mature Technology: BioButterfly\u2122 is currently the most advanced technology for producing biobased butadiene from bioethanol, with a favorable carbon footprint. The industrial demonstrator launched in July 2023 in Bassens confirmed the robustness of the process using both first and second-generation bioethanol.\u00a0\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Validated Industrial Applications: The biobased butadiene was successfully used to synthesize BR and SBR rubber, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":114,"featured_media":171727,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","nova_meta_subtitle":"Michelin, IFPEN, and Axens are pleased to announce significant advancements in the BioButterfly\u2122 project, supported by ADEME, R\u00e9gion Nouvelle Aquitaine and Bordeaux Metropole, which aims to produce bio-based butadiene from bioethanol","footnotes":""},"categories":[5572],"tags":[5838,5796,10416,10408],"supplier":[2491,6145,2906],"class_list":["post-171719","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bio-based","tag-bioeconomy","tag-biotechnology","tag-circulareconomy","tag-greenchemistry","supplier-axens-technologies-ifp","supplier-ifpen","supplier-michelin"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/171719","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/114"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=171719"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/171719\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/171727"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=171719"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=171719"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=171719"},{"taxonomy":"supplier","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/supplier?post=171719"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}