ResiCare, Stora Enso, make bio-5 HMF

ResiCare, a subsidiary of the French tire producer the Michelin, and IFP Energies nouvelles produced the first samples from a biobased process for making 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) from fructose they have developed. 5-HMF is an intermediate chemical for many products, including adhesives and polymers. It is typically made from fossil fuel. ResiCare says it is planning commercial production in the near future. 5-HMF could one day be used to make nylon, according to Stora Enso, a Finnish wood products firm that is selling 5-HMF.