Versalis: Develop more green chemical technologies

Recently, after receiving the 2022 Emerging Leader Award from ICIS, Adriano Alfani, CEO of Versalis, a chemical subsidiary of the Italian Eni Group, said that the company will further strengthen its position in the renewable field and develop green technologies
suitable for the market.

Globally, Versalis is known for its commitment to green or biotechnology, where the company strives to reduce its dependence on hydrocarbon feedstocks and establish viable alternative process routes
for certain chemicals and polymers.
At present, the company is working with parent company Eni Group to explore
green recycling technologies.
Alfani said: "Versalis does not reject any technology
.
One technology is no better than another, we are looking for all possible types of
technology.
”

Specifically, according to Alfarni, Versalis invests
in both mechanical and chemical recycling of plastics.
"We don't think there's a difference between mechanical recycling and chemical recycling, but it's completely complementary
," Alfani said.
Circulation is very important
to us.
Versalis has said it will invest in mechanical recycling at Eni Group's plant in the port of Margela, Italy, and will build the first pilot plant for chemical recycling in Mantua, northern Italy
.

According to reports, the port of Margela is an important production base
for Versalis and its parent company Eni Group.
The refinery has been transitioning
to a biorefinery since 2014.
Alfani said the plant will be a greener and more sustainable plant in the near term by shutting down steam crackers, increasing biorefining capacity and investing in new technologies such as the production of isopropyl alcohol
.
The refinery's transformation means a 20%
reduction in the CO2 footprint of all Versalis' assets.
In terms of the chemical recycling plant in Mantua, Versalis acquired the technology
to recycle styrene plastic from Ecoplastic.
This gives Versalis the ability to recycle plastic waste
from polystyrene to polyethylene.

Currently, Versalis' monomer, intermediates, polymers and elastomer products made from bionaphtha and recycled chemicals are certified by International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) Plus at its plants in Puerto Marguera, Brindisi, Mantua, Ferrara and Ravenna
.
Downstream products produced from bionaphtha can already be sold with "biological attributes" products, while downstream products produced from recycled chemicals can also be sold with "circular attributes" products
.

According to Alfani, Versalis has also invested in
other alternative technologies that use renewable resources to produce chemicals.
The company acquired the "green" chemicals business of the Mossi & Ghisolfi Group in 2018 and moved into second-generation bioethanol to address the product market
for biofuels and disinfectants.
In March 2022, the company increased its stake in Novamont and subsequently increased its stake
in the Matrica joint venture, established in Puerto Torres in 2011.