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The search for high oleic oils
There had been quite a few inquiries that came to the blog regarding the market for high oleic oils and I just wanted to post some recent news about this market. One is from Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization). The agency said it has received trial approval for its … Continue reading
FOLLOW ME ON THESE SPACESophorolipids from Mahua Oil
Aside from Tecnon OrbiChem’s coverage of oleochemicals on the monthly Bio-Materials newsletter, I have not covered much of the bio-based surfactants market in months. However, the blog recently received an interesting information on sophorolipids, a fermentation-based glycolipids that can be used to produce surfactants. The blog last mentioned sophorolipids in a September 2012 post when … Continue reading
FOLLOW ME ON THESE SPACEVersalis, Elevance Partnership
Given my limited background in organic chemistry, I am still trying to comprehend the potential importance of olefin metathesis technology within the overall chemical industry. However, Elevance has a nice summary of what metathesis is all about on its web page. Elevance recently announced its partnership with Italian chemical firm Versalis on the joint development … Continue reading
FOLLOW ME ON THESE SPACEAmyris expands squalene sales in Korea
Amyris has selected Dowell C&I Co., Ltd., a supplier of ingredients for the personal care industry, as its exclusive distributor of Neossance™ Squalane in the Republic of Korea. The company is planning to double its sugar-based squalene sales in 2014. Until recently, squalane could only be sourced from shark liver or olive oil. Squalane is considered … Continue reading
FOLLOW ME ON THESE SPACEADM invests in Rennovia
I just had an interesting conversation with Elevance regarding their partnership with Versalis, and I will try to post a blog soon. In the meantime, I just received this news from Archer Daniels Midland about its $25 million equity investment in bio-based nylon intermediates developer Rennovia. It is interesting that this US agribusiness firm is … Continue reading
FOLLOW ME ON THESE SPACEMitsubishi Chemical expands Durabio output
Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC) recently announced that it is expanding production of its isosorbide-based engineering plastic, DURABIO, at its Kurosaki Plant in Fukuoka, Japan. MCC has been producing its high-performance, high-transparency bio-based engineering plastic since August 2012 with annual production capacity of 5,000 tons. The company is planning to increase annual production capacity to 16,000 … Continue reading
FOLLOW ME ON THESE SPACEScotland launches new industrial biotechnology center
Funded by the Scottish Funding Council and supported by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands & Islands Enterprise, the new Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) has been launched, involving all 13 Scottish Higher Education Institutions that are active in biotechnology research and will be co-ordinated by the University of Strathclyde. IBIOC is said to be a key … Continue reading
FOLLOW ME ON THESE SPACEElevance picks URS for Natchez Biorefinery
I am still working on the Elevance-Versalis press releases, and hoping to score some additional information from the companies. In the meantime, let me post this earlier news from Elevance about its Natchez plant activities. Elevance Renewable Sciences has selected URS Corporation to provide engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services for its second world-scale biorefinery … Continue reading
FOLLOW ME ON THESE SPACECalendars and events
This year seems to be more packed with bio-based chemicals/materials conferences and trade shows! The blog has already partnered with several conferences for the first half of 2014, and more on the way for the second half (still pending approval). I will be attending the following conferences for 1H 2014 under Tecnon OrbiChem’s sanction, so … Continue reading
FOLLOW ME ON THESE SPACEThe quest for sustainable rubber
This has been in my draft for quite some time and I am glad to be able to post it after an interesting presentation that I heard from Patagonia and Yulex during the World Bio Markets USA conference last year in October. Since December last year, Patagonia has already been offering its Yulex R2 Front-Zip … Continue reading
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