Covestro produces aniline using plant-based raw materials

Covestro, formerly Bayer MaterialScience, has scored a research breakthrough for the use of plant-based raw materials in plastics production: aniline, an important basic chemical, can now be derived from biomass. The materials manufacturer achieved this by collaborating with partners on the development of a completely new process, initially in the laboratory. Until now, only fossil raw materials had been used for the production of aniline, which plays an important role in the chemical industry and is used as starting material for numerous products. 

Following its success in the lab, Covestro plans to further develop the new process together with partners from