Virent is currently developing larger scale production capabilities for hydrogen’s use as a chemical in industrial applications. Hydrogen is a key chemical building block used in many chemical processes, predominately ammonia fertilizer production and, in oil refineries, to upgrade lower quality oil fractions into gasoline and diesel and to remove sulphur contaminants. Other applications include the manufacture of glass, vitamins, personal care products, lubricants, refined metals, and food products.
Virent produces renewable hydrogen at a lower cost than wind and solar powered electrolyzers and can be cost competitive with distributed, non-renewable processes, such as steam reforming of natural gas.
Propylene glycol production is another focus of Virent development activities. This high-value chemical is a component of personal care products, de-icing and antifreeze products, liquid detergents, paints and resins. Virent’s conversion of glycerol, a co-product of biodiesel production, to propylene glycol provides a high value use for the glycerol and can improve overall biodiesel plant economics. For renewable propylene glycol production, competitive methods require the addition of hydrogen, a costly step not needed by the BioForming process.
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