Yesterday (16 June) saw the official inauguration of the first of three green chemistry plants at the new Matrìca complex at Porto Torres, on the island of Sardinia.
Matrìca is a joint venture between Versalis, an Italian manufacturer of petrochemical products, and Novamont, an Italian manufacturer in the bioplastics sector.
The venture was first conceived back in 2011 with the object of converting the petrochemical plant at Porto Torres into one of the an integrated green chemistry plant, producing raw materials from renewable plant sources including the base molecule for compostable carrier bags.
The newly opened plant converts vegetable oils into monomers and intermediates, the building blocks for downstream production of more complex bioproducts.
Over the next few months, another two plants will open at the biorefinery complex. At these plants, monomers and intermediates will be transformed into extensor oils for the tire industry and into a raft of innovative products with high added value, such as bases for biolubricants, plasticizers for polymers and products for cosmetic formulations. Representing a global investment of about 180 million Euros (£145 million), the three plants have a total production capacity of approximately 70 thousand tons per year.
Catia Bastioli, Managing Director of Novamont and Matrìca, commented: "The first Matrìca plant that we are inaugurating today, uses a proprietary technology radically different from all other existing technologies: it does not use ozone in the vegetable oil oxidative scission reaction and allows us to produce intermediates known as azelaic acid and pelargonic acid, as well as new proprietary products, through a safe process with low environmental impact," she said.
"This moment is the starting point of a challenge that I hope will see the local area as an experimental laboratory for a new development model that will harmoniously combine industry, agriculture, environment, technological innovation, culture, enhancing the immense wealth of human resources, beauty, technical qualities and biodiversity that this island and the whole Italy represent."
Find out more about the Matrica project.
Get our weekly digest
resource.co article ai
How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.