Health and safety

This category contains 8 posts

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 »

NatureWorks, Nonwovens Institute Support N95 Masks Production for Healthcare Workers

A long-standing partnership between NatureWorks and the Nonwovens Institute (NWI) at North Carolina State University (NC State) has resulted in a new spunbond nonwoven technology enabling the production of at least 10 million additional N95 surgical masks. NWI has converted the use of its research and training pilot production line to produce the face mask materials, and NatureWorks … Continue reading »

New York Biofuel Plant Supplies Ethanol for Sanitizer

Western New York Energy (WNYE), New York’s only operational ethanol facility, is supplying corporations across the Northeast and Canada with ethanol to produce 80% antiseptic alcohol sanitizer amidst the COVID pandemic. The WNY Energy facility is locally owned and can produce up to 150,000 gallons per day of tech-grade ethanol for industrial purposes such as … Continue reading »

Amyris launches squalene-based hand sanitizer

I am trying to contain my shopping addiction nowadays with just the occasional hunt for necessities like wearable masks and gloves, disinfecting cleaners and sprays, antibacterial soaps, and hand sanitizers, among other ‘fight COVID-19’ essentials. Thankfully toilet paper, wipes and paper towels are plentiful in my neighbourhood. Yes, I also gave in to buying a … Continue reading »

Ginkgo commits $25M for COVID-19 projects

Synthetic biology company Ginkgo Bioworks announced its $25 million commitment for free access to its platform in the development of a long-term solution to the COVID-19 crisis.  Companies building treatments that can stop COVID-19 can now avail of Ginkgo’s services: For the manufacturing of nucleic acid-based vaccines: Provide process development capacity with Ginkgo’s large bank of … Continue reading »

VIDEO: ECHA solicits comments on tattoo ink chemicals restriction

I find this announcement interesting as I know several people who have been allergic to tattoo inks and are looking for alternatives. According to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), potential incremental substitution costs as a result of the proposed restriction could be valued at about €4.4m/year to be incurred by downstream users of tattoo ink … Continue reading »

Cleaning industry emphasizes sustainability as top agenda

I do hope you recently read my Tecnon OrbiChem colleague, Philippa Davies’ recent article on the impact of low crude oil price on bio-based chemicals projects, with insights taken from her attendance this week at the ICDC Downstream Chemical Conference in India, which was jointly organized by Tecnon OrbiChem and Elite++. As for me, I … Continue reading »

Synthetic bio success in anti-malaria drug

The blog does not usually cover the pharmaceuticals market being that I am unfamiliar with the players and the products in this industry. However, this news coming from University of California Berkeley warrants a post as professor of chemical engineering Jay Keasling — also the co-founder of Amyris, announced that France-based pharmaceutical company Sanofi will … Continue reading »

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