My apologies for the delay in this post. I had to do several phone calls throughout the day today and yesterday. My twittering and Facebook addiction also got the best of me lately ;-).
Here are this week’s news roundup:
Reverdia, Helm biosuccinic partnership
Bio-succinic acid producer Reverdia has partnered with European chemical distributor Helm AG for the distribution and joint market development of Reverdia’s Biosuccinium. Reverdia expects its 10,000 tonne/year biobased succinic acid plant in Cassano Spinola, Italy, to start operations by the end of 2012. Helm said the biobased succinic acid will be a good addition to its portfolio of biobased chemicals and diacids such as sebacic, azelaic and adipic acid.
Perstorp capitalizes on bioplastic growth
Swedish chemical firm Perstorp said it is committed to meet the strong growing demand for biodegradable plastics with its Capa thermoplastics, which is made from biodegradable resins polycaprolactone (PCL). Perstorp said its Capa Thermoplastics can blend well with many other polymers. The company doubled the production capacity of its Capa biodegradable resins at its Warrington, England, plant last year
TOKU-E’s bioacrylamide now available
TOKU-E company announced that its newly developed ultra-pure bioconversion acrylamide is now available in bulk quantities for electrophoresis and other life science applications. The company produces its ultra pure acrylamide using enzyme conversion with nitrile hydratase.
Vantage buys jojoba company
Oleochemical producer Vantage Specialty Chemicals has bought Desert Whale Jojoba Co., a US grower, producer and processor of jojoba and jojoba-based derivatives. Liquid wax ester from jojoba plant is used to formulate ingredients for cosmetics and personal care applications. Vantage said the acquisition complement its global personal care business under the Lipo brand.
Ecolab launches biobased cleaners
Ecolab introduced a new line of plant-derived hard surface cleaners that are USDA BioPreferred and Green Seal certified. The product line includes peroxide multi-surface cleaner, glass cleaner, acid bathroom cleaner and neutral bathroom cleaner.
Green Dot’s rubber-like bioplastic
Green Dot has introduced a rubber-like compostable cornstarch-based bioplastic for toys application. The bioplastic, according to Green Dot, has been independently tested and verified to meet composting standards in the U.S. (ASTM D6400) and E.U. (EN 13432). BeginAgain Toys from Fort Collins Colorado is said to have developed an imaginative ice cream play set using Green Dot’s new compostable elastomeric bioplastic.
OriginOil to license CLEAN-FRAC
Algae developer OriginOil has granted a non-exclusive license for its proprietary CLEAN-FRAC process to oil and gas water treatment firm Pearl H2O. The company intents to integrate the process as the first step in its own continuous-process oil and gas frack water recovery and clean-up system. Pearl plans to deploy a showcase system before year-end, which is expected to result in first licensing revenues to OriginOil in early 2013.
Strong green roofs and walls market
Green roofs and green walls, sought to address environmental issues like air pollution, heat-island effect, and loss of green spaces in cities, will balloon into a $7.7bn market in 2017, driven by mandates and incentives by cities across the globe, according to Lux Research. Green roofs will account for $7bn of the market, presenting a $2bn opportunity to suppliers of polymeric materials such as geosynthetic fabrics and waterproof membranes. Green walls will swell to a $680m market, using $200m worth of materials such as self-supporting polyurethane foam growth media.
BIOFUEL:
Aemetis expands license with Chevron
Aemetis signed an expanded global license agreement with Chevron Lummus Global (CLG) for the production of renewable jet and diesel fuel. Under the licensing deal, Aemetis’ subsidiary, Aemetis Advanced Fuels will use its ISOCONVERSION process that include patented catalytic hydrothermolysis reactor technology using water as catalyst to convert plant and algal oils into intermediate oil products similar to petroleum crude oil. The intermediate oils are processed with hydrogen using CLG’s ISOCONVERSION™ catalysts to produce renewable jet fuel and diesel.
Zeachem selected for $4.6m award
Zeachem has been selected as a proposed recipient of a $4.6m award from the California Energy Commission for the development of a pilot plant at its Menlo Park, Calif. research and development facility to scale up the company’s C3 product platform for advanced biofuel production. The proposed award, which the Energy Commission will consider at a future business meeting, will enable the production of drop-in bio-based gasoline from woody biomass and agricultural residues.
Raizen to invest in Iogen plant
Brazilian sugarcane ethanol producer Raizen Group has committed an initial investment to develop a commercial cellulosic ethanol project in Brazil with Iogen. The investment will cover development and engineering costs associated with the front end design of a biomass-to-ethanol facility to be co-located with Raízen’s Costa Pinto facility in Piracicaba, São Paulo.
Flint Hills buys ethanol plant
Flint Hills Resources will buy Advanced BioEnergy’s (ABE) Fairmont Nebraska ethanol plant as well as related distillers and non-food grade corn oil businesses for $160m plus the value of ABE Fairmont’s inventory at closing (expected to be worth $15m). ABE will use the proceeds to pay debts. The company will continue to own and operate its South Dakota ethanol plants.
Direvo launches DDGS enzyme
Direvo Industrial Biotechnology GmbH has introduced its BluZy enzymes platform to improve nutritional value of distillers dried grains or DDGS (a byproduct in ethanol production), and therefore improve economics of ethanol production. DDGS is a major source of revenues for corn-based ethanol producers and a popular substitute for corn and soybean meal in animal feed rations. The BluZy enzyme is said to be tailor made for the corn ethanol industry.
