Covestro Launches EU-Funded Project For Bio-Based Aniline Production
Covestro has launched Bio4PURConti, a new European Union-funded project aimed at developing the world’s first continuous production process for bio-based aniline, a key raw material used in the manufacture of polyurethanes.
The project seeks to create a low-carbon alternative to conventional fossil-based aniline, which is widely used in producing methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), an essential component in polyurethane applications across industries including textiles, footwear, furniture and automotive.
Unlike traditional batch-based production methods, Bio4PURConti will focus on continuous fermentation technology using plant-based sugars derived from biomass. The process combines biotechnology and chemical catalysis to produce aniline with 100 per cent renewable carbon content while maintaining compatibility with existing industrial production systems.
The initiative aims to scale the technology from laboratory development to semi-industrial production, with pilot facilities located at Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant in Ghent, Belgium, and Covestro’s site in Leverkusen, Germany.
Backed by a consortium of 10 industrial and research partners from seven European countries, the project has a total budget of €8.4 million, including €7 million in funding from the European Union. The programme will run for 42 months.
According to Covestro, the project is expected to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of aniline production, which currently contributes an estimated 20 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions globally each year.
As sustainability and low-carbon materials become increasingly important across global manufacturing supply chains, the development of bio-based aniline could support the transition towards more sustainable production practices in industries that rely on polyurethane-based materials.
