Italian oil giant Eni's bio-butadiene (bio-BDE) technology developed with Genomatica was named the winner of Tire Technology International Awards for Excellence and Innovation, the company announced on Thursday.
The bio-BDE technology developed by Versalis, Eni's subsidiary for the chemical business, and Genomatica, a bioengineering company working in the chemical industry, won the environmental achievement of the year award, the company's press release said.
'Tire Technology International Awards for Excellence and Innovation' is a European independent award program for the tire industry.
According to the press release, the judging panel, composed of 26 international tire industry experts, analysts, business members and academia, awarded the process developed by Versalis and Genomatica to produce 1,3 bio-BDE from renewable resources and bio-fuels from first and second generation sugars via 1,3 butanediol (BDO) and subsequent dehydration.
Versalis and Genomatica entered into a technology partnership in 2013 and established a Tech company - with Versalis having the majority stake - to license this technology.
In 2016, the two partners announced a successful pilot-scale production of high purity bio-BDE, which was then polymerized into bio-rubber (specifically, bio-polybutadiene), thereby reaching an important objective.
The Tire Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence, founded in 2008, reward the smart thinking and hard work of the tire design and manufacturing industry. The shortlist is compiled from nominations received from the readers of Tire Technology International, and with input of the magazine's editorial team.
By Muhsin Baris Tiryakioglu
Anadolu Agency
muhsin.tiryakioglu@aa.com.tr