Turn renewable sugars into fuels and chemicals used today
BioForming® S2A (sugars-to-aromatics) converts renewable sugar feedstocks into aromatic hydrocarbons used in fuels and chemical products. Developed by Johnson Matthey and Virent, it provides a route to produce drop-in components that fit within existing fuel and petrochemical systems.
Download BioForming® S2A brochure
Address the aromatics gap across fuels and materials
Aromatics are essential in fuels and chemicals and remain a critical part of existing fuel and material specifications.
This creates clear challenges as the industry develops new production routes:
SAF limitation
Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) pathways typically produce paraffins but not aromatics, limiting blending levels
Plastics gap
There is no widely adopted route to fully bio-based paraxylene for plastics
Fuel performance
Renewable gasoline alternatives often lack the performance required for blending
BioForming® S2A provides a route to bio-based aromatics, addressing these gaps across fuels and materials.
Produce key components for fuels and chemicals
BioForming® S2A converts sugars into an intermediate product, BioFormate®, which is similar to petroleum reformate.
This can be processed into:
BioForm® SAK
An aromatic component for aviation fuel
BioForm® PX
A renewable route to paraxylene for plastics
Aromatic gasoline blendstock
High-octane fuel component
These products are designed to be used within existing fuel and chemical value chains.
Fit into existing refinery and petrochemical operations
BioFormate® can be processed using established refinery and petrochemical units allowing producers to introduce bio-based feedstocks into existing operations without major changes to infrastructure. For refiners and fuel producers, this provides a practical route to incorporate renewable content while maintaining current processing configurations.
Apply across aviation, materials and fuels
Sustainable aviation fuel
BioForm® SAK provides the aromatics required in jet fuel.
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Bio-based plastics and chemicals
BioForm® PX provides a route to bio-based paraxylene
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Renewable gasoline
BioForming® produces aromatic gasoline blendstock with high octane characteristics.
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Use flexible feedstocks
BioForming® S2A uses sugar as its primary feedstock, sourced from crops such as corn, sugarcane, sugar beet and wheat.
It can also process sugars derived from biomass, providing a pathway to incorporate cellulosic feedstocks as these become more available.
Unlike fermentation routes, the process can handle mixed sugar streams. This allows producers to work with a broader range of feedstocks without needing to tailor the process to each individual sugar type.
Proven across industry applications
BioForming® technology has been demonstrated through collaborations across aviation, materials and fuels.
Aviation
- - Used in 100% SAF demonstration flights with airlines including Virgin Atlantic and Emirates
- - Tested by Rolls‑Royce, showing reduced particulate emissions
Materials
- - Used to produce 100% plant-based PET bottles (Coca‑Cola)
- - Applied in textile and advanced material applications (Patagonia, Toray)
Fuels
- - Approved for blending into the US gasoline pool (EPA Part 79)
- - Tested in collaboration with Shell
- - Used in high-performance motorsport fuels, including Formula 1
Developed with Virent
BioForming® S2A is jointly developed by Johnson Matthey and Virent.
Virent is widely recognised for its work in renewable fuels and chemicals, bringing proven capability alongside Johnson Matthey’s technology and scale-up expertise.
Speak to our experts
Discuss how BioForming® S2A could fit within your fuel or chemical production strategy.
Andrew Richardson
Common questions about BioForming® and renewable aromatics
What is BioForming® technology?
BioForming® S2A is a technology that converts renewable sugars into aromatic hydrocarbons used in fuels and chemicals.
What are aromatics and why are they important?
Aromatics are hydrocarbon molecules required in fuels such as jet fuel and in materials such as plastics. They play a key role in fuel performance and material properties.
Why are aromatics important in sustainable aviation fuel?
Aromatics are required to ensure compatibility with aircraft fuel systems. Most SAF pathways do not produce them, which limits blending levels.
Can sustainable aviation fuel be used at 100%?
100% SAF requires the correct balance of paraffins and aromatics. Technologies that produce aromatics help enable this.
What is BioForm® SAK?
BioForm® SAK is an aromatic kerosene component used in aviation fuel blends.
What is BioForm® PX?
BioForm® PX is a renewable form of paraxylene used to produce PET plastics.
How is BioForming® different from fermentation technologies?
BioForming® uses a thermochemical route, allowing it to process mixed sugars and scale efficiently for industrial production.
What feedstocks are used for BioForming?
Sugar feedstocks such as corn, sugarcane and sugar beet, with future capability for cellulosic sugars.
Can BioFormate® integrate with existing refineries?
Yes. BioFormate® can be processed using existing refinery and petrochemical infrastructure.
What products can BioFormate® produce?
Components for sustainable aviation fuel, renewable gasoline and bio-based chemicals such as paraxylene.
