Clariant has announced the official completion of its first commercial-scale Sunliquid plant in Podari, Romania. This will be operational during Q4 and will produce about 50,000 tonnes/year of “almost carbon-neutral” cellulosic ethanol from 250,000 tonnes/year of agricultural residues sourced in the vicinity.

Clariant’s Biofuels & Derivatives business line has formed a strategic partnership with Chemtex Global to market its Sunliquid technology for second-generation biofuel projects in China. It will supply technology licences, technical services and starter cultures from its proprietary enzyme and yeast platform, while Chemtex will offer engineering, procurement construction services.