Green Chemicals Blog
Oleochemical
Update in metathesis technology commercialisation
Last month, the death of Professor Robert Grubbs, a 2005 Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry and instrumental in the development of metathesis catalysts, took me back all the way in 2008 during the formation of Elevance Renewable Sciences, one of the few start-up companies I’ve interviewed and started covering when I started the blog in … Continue reading
Indorama Ventures to buy Brazil-based Oxiteno
Indorama announced on Monday that it will acquire Oxiteno, the chemical subsidiary of Brazilian fuel company Ultrapar Participacoes SA, for $1.3 billion, subject to adjustment and closing, with a deferred payment of $150 million in 2024. The transaction is expected to close in Q1 2022. Oxiteno is an interesting acquisition for Thailand-based Indorama Ventures not … Continue reading
Glycolipids Market Expands As Technology Improves
Several biotechnology and specialty chemical companies are ramping up marketing and commercialisation of microbial-based surfactants especially glycolipids like rhamnolipid and sophorolipids as fermentation, extraction and purification processes for these surfactants have vastly improved compared to even a few years back. Production yields of these glycolipids have reportedly improved and premiums over fossil-based surfactants have also … Continue reading
Has Glycerol Passed Its Peak?
The global economy came to a virtual standstill in the first half of 2020 as countries introduced lockdown measures in a bid to control the COVID-19 virus. As a result, there were fewer cars on the road and therefore less demand for fuel. This forced refineries for both crude oil and biofuels to turn production … Continue reading
ADM, P2 Science collaborate in bio-based specialty chems R&D
ADM and P2 Science, Inc. have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that intends to build on both companies’ expertise in the field of chemistry and renewable materials derived from plants. The MOU proposes the companies will work together in the development of commercial opportunities for plant-based monomers, polymers, and ingredients for personal care and … Continue reading
NEW OLEOCHEMICALS SERVICE FROM TECNON ORBICHEM
Since 2013, Tecnon OrbiChem has been providing information on bio-based chemicals including oleochemicals in our monthly Bio-Materials Chemical Business Focus. We have both expanded and focussed our oleochemicals coverage to create a new Oleochemicals Including Surfactants, Biofuels and Glycerol-derived Intermediates Chemical Business Focus monthly report. The content and format of this new service is based … Continue reading
VIDEO: P&G increases ‘Naturals’ product offering
Here’s an interesting video interview from the Cincinnati Business Courier, which featured Procter & Gamble (P&G) and its aim to strengthen its “All Naturals” product portfolio in areas such as detergents, household care products and even diapers. In a recent blog post by P&G, CEO David Taylor addressed the company’s progress on ‘naturals’ with a large group … Continue reading
Lipids-based chemicals news
Happy April 1 blog readers! I have finished and published Tecnon OrbiChem’s March edition of the Bio-Materials newsletter yesterday, celebrated my birthday on Wednesday, did my social media duties at the AFPM last week and all the while battling a bad cough for more than a week now. Not bad for a newly-minted 40 year … Continue reading
Twitter Live: ICIS World Oleochemicals Conference 2015
The Green Chemicals Blog is a media partner for the 10th ICIS World Oleochemicals Conference that took place on 22-23 October 2015 in Dubrovnik, Croatia. This conference covered the latest updates on the global oleochemicals market in terms of supply/demand fundamentals, market outlook in the light of current crude oil prices, sustainability in the oleochemicals supply … Continue reading
Vantage expands jojoba oil biz
I used to cover the very small jojoba oil market when I was writing for Chemical Market Reporter magazine. I got some flashbacks when I saw this news from Vantage Specialty Ingredients that it has recently acquired a majority share in Agrinsa, one of the largest jojoba farms located in Argentina. The Agrinsa farm is … Continue reading