Michelin Builds €60M Industrial Demonstrator for Bio‑Sourced 5‑HMF Molecule
Michelin is spearheading a major shift in green chemistry with a €60 million investment to build an industrial demonstrator in Péage‑en‑Roussillon, France, capable of producing 3,000 t/year of bio‑sourced 5‑Hydroxymethylfurfural (5‑HMF). As Europe seeks to dethrone fossil feedstocks, this pioneering unit, part of the CERISEA project and backed by ADEME and the CBE JU, marks the continent’s first large-scale production of a non-toxic molecular building block for industries ranging from resins to aerospace.
Michelin has announced the construction of an initial industrial demonstration unit for producing the 5-HMF molecule. This bio-sourced and non-toxic molecule can replace ingredients derived from fossil fuels in a wide variety of industrial fields. The demonstrator will be located in Roussillon, France, and will have an annual production capacity of 3,000 metric tons.
The molecule is already used in Michelin’s ResiCare resins. Still, this increased capacity will make it viable on an industrial scale, opening up a wide range of potential applications for use. 5-HMF, also known as 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural, is a platform molecule with multiple possible derivatives. It is bio-sourced and non-toxic, making it suitable for replacing ingredients sourced from oil or those of concern. The molecule is obtained from fructose that has been transformed using green chemistry processes.
The 5-HMF project, entitled CERISEA, was developed by a partnership framework that brings together multiple industrial, institutional, and academic stakeholders. The initial industrial-scale unit will safeguard Michelin ResiCare’s supply and make it feasible to lower costs.
“The launch of this initial unit in France, to produce a bio-sourced molecule essential for green chemistry, is a major milestone for taking Resicare’s activities to an industrial scale,” said Maude Portigliatti, director of the Polymer Composite Solutions division at Michelin and a member of the group’s executive committee. Created at Michelin in 2016, this startup, at the cutting edge of innovation, will be able to accelerate the development of its high-performance and non-toxic resin offerings for manufacturers. This new demonstration of the group’s innovative power, the fruit of years of joint research with our partners, also heralds the creation of a new European industry.”
Michelin began exploring alternatives to formaldehyde and resorcinol in the adhesive resins used for its tires in 2008. In 2013, a technology for tire applications was developed that did not use 5-HMF. In 2016, 5-HMF was integrated into the Michelin ResiCare formula for resins intended for uses other than tires, initially for plywood, after identifying a source at a small volume and a high price. After an initial attempt with another partner, Michelin joined forces with the IFPEN in 2021 to develop a more robust production process from fructose, with tests on various scales and engineering studies carried out until the end of 2023.
In related news, Michelin has introduced the next generation of its successful CrossClimate all-season tire range – the CrossClimate 3 and the CrossClimate 3 Sport. Click here to read the full story
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