Investments
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Solazyme still faces production challenges at Moema
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I wonder how long the petrochemical industry had perfected its processing technologies before it was able to reach an economical, efficient level? Unfortunately, investors today are not too forgiving when new, untested technologies from public companies are facing commercialization challenges. Solazyme is now going through this stage and their stocks had plunged from $11.79 a…
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Global Bioenergies hits bio-methacrylic acid milestone
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So while the bio-acrylic acid development and commercialization seem to have stalled a bit (see my recent post), France-based Global Bioenergies announced that it has reached its first milestone in the development of bio-based methacrylic acid (trademarked under BioMA+) using renewable isobutene feedstock. Methacrylic acid is a key intermediate in acrylic paints. This milestone resulted…
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MeadWestvaco spins off specialty chemicals business
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In the pine chemicals world, MeadWestvaco (MWV), a major packaging company, announced its intention to spin-off its specialty chemicals business as an independent publicly traded entity. The spinoff is expected to be completed by the end of 2015. MWV reported that it remains open to other value-creating alternatives for the specialty chemicals business throughout this process. MWV…
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Raizen, Iogen starts cellulosic ethanol production
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Joining the startup of several other cellulosic ethanol facilities such as from DSM-POET, Abengoa and Granbio, is Raizen who recently began its own production of cellulosic ethanol using Iogen’s technology at Raizen’s newly expanded Costa Pinto sugarcane mill in Piracicaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil. The 40 million litres/year facility, with investment worth of $100 million, will…
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Port of Rotterdam looking to attract Bio investments
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The blog has reported in the past about the Malaysian Biotech hub, Bio-XCell, trying to attract several renewable chemical companies looking to invest capacities in the region such as the recent announcement from Verdezyne. However, there are other chemical hubs who are looking to expand into the bio-based sector and one of them is the…
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Rivertop starts construction of first commercial plant
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Montana, US-based specialty chemicals company, Rivertop Renewables has begun construction of its first commercial plant, located at DanChem Technologies, Inc.’s (DTI) facility in Danville, Virginia. DTI, a custom manufacturer of fine and specialty chemical products, is expected to begin production of Rivertop’s sugar-based glucaric acid-derived products beginning in the summer of 2015. At full capacity,…
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Bioplastics merger – Cardia Bioplastics, Stellar Films
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Australia-based Cardia Bioplastics has signed a proposed merger with Stellar Films Group, which manufactures film-based packaging catering to personal care, hygiene and medical product industries with facilities in Melbourne, Australia, and Port Klang, Malaysia. Under the proposed merger, Cardia Bioplastics will acquire all of the shares and units issued in Stellar Films, and issue ordinary…