I’ve been introduced last month to Locus Bio-Energy Solutions™ as I interviewed CEO Jonathan Rogers about their bio-based surfactants (mostly glycolipids) for use in the oil and gas market. A more comprehensive article about my interview has just been published this week on Tecnon OrbiChem’s September Biomaterials newsletter.
Next week, Locus Bio-Energy is formally opening its Woodlands, Texas, Innovation Center facility. According to the company, bio-surfactants have attracted interest in the oil and gas industry for the last 10-15 years because of their safety and remarkably low critical micelle concentrations (CMC). They can also reduce the air/water and fluid/fluid surface gas usage aside from their green profile. The company is currently offering two commercial bio-based products for the oilfield sector under its AssurEOR treatment program – AssurEOR FLOW, a paraffin remediation and wellbore cleaning treatment, and AssurEOR STIM, an enhanced oil recovery and well stimulation treatment.
The bio-surfactants Locus manufactures include, but are not limited to, glycolipids including rhamnolipids, sophorolipids as well as lipopeptides, including surfactin.
Locus Bio-Energy Solutions is part of Locus Fermentation Solutions (Locus FS), a private equity-backed technology development company based in Ohio, USA. Another one of Locus FS’ business targeting the agriculture sector is Locus Agriculture Solutions®. Locus AG recently formed a partnership with Gevo to trial a new technology developed by Locus AG that is expected to improve capture of soil carbon, reduce applied nitrogen fertilizer needs and improve yield. According to Locus AG, its Rhizolizer® line of fresh, non-GMO soil “probiotic” treatments are produced from proven microorganisms and tailored to meet the needs of local farmers. Rhizolizer has been used to treat 40,000 commercial agriculture acres across several crops, with positive results in improving crop productivity, crop quality, vigor and sustainability. Treatments are now being tested on Gevo’s 30-acre farm co-located at its Luverne, MN facility.
