Interesting news from Avantium but in short-to-medium term, this could complete the company’s (and its partners’) goal of sustainable polymers offering (e.g. CO2-based MEG + FDCA = PEF).

Avantium announced today that it has acquired the assets of US-based Liquid Light Inc., which has developed proprietary process technology to make major chemicals from carbon dioxide (CO2). The acquisition will combine the technologies of both Liquid Light and Avantium to develop an electro-catalysis platform and to commercialize new process technologies using CO2 as feedstock to produce sustainable chemicals and materials.

Liquid Light, which was spun out from Princeton University in 2008, has invested more than US$35 million on low-energy electrochemistry technologies to convert CO2 to major chemicals. It has filed over 100 national patent applications of which more than twenty have been granted. Its patent portfolio includes filings on producing multiple chemical building blocks used in large existing markets, including oxalic acid, glycolic acid, ethylene glycol, propylene, isopropanol, methyl-methacrylate and acetic acid for the production of polymers, coatings and cosmetics.

The technology and patent portfolio of Liquid Light will be integrated in Avantium’s Renewable Chemistry business unit and its existing R&D program in electrochemistry. Avantium said the acquisition will extend its capabilities beyond catalytic conversion of biomass. The integration of the Liquid Light assets into Avantium is complete and effective immediately. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

More on my analysis of this acquisition on Tecnon OrbiChem’s January Biomaterials newsletter.