Company initiatives
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Cereplast files for Bankruptcy
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It looks like the renewable chemicals/bio-materials industry is now seeing the start of restructuring with LS9 recently being acquired by Renewable Energy Group, Codexis changing its business strategy and focus, and now Cereplast filing for bankruptcy. The Indiana-based bioplastic producer has filed voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 in the US Bankruptcy Court led…
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BASF targets 100% certified palm oil purchase by 2015
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Food manufacturers and consumer products companies sometimes are not the only one looking to have its palm oil and other palm oil derivatives products sustainably certified. BASF said it is one of the first suppliers to the European home and personal care industry to offer a diverse range of ingredients based on certified sustainable palm…
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Sophorolipids from Mahua Oil
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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…
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Versalis, Elevance Partnership
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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…
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Amyris expands squalene sales in Korea
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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…
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ADM invests in Rennovia
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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…
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Scotland launches new industrial biotechnology center
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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…