In California, Cereplast, in a follow up to its bioplastics symbol campaign, will be hosting an online forum through August 12th for a public discussion regarding its proposed usage guidelines and licensing requirements. Cereplast has applied for trademark registration and is currently conducting a due diligence process to determine the guidelines for the use and […]
In Colorado, Gevo announced it plans to work with South Hampton Resources, Inc., a subsidiary of Arabian American Development, to build a hydrocarbon processing demonstration plant at their facility just outside of Houston in Silsbee, Texas. This demonstration plant is expected to process up to 10,000 gallons of Gevo’s isobutanol per month into a variety […]
In France, Synthos and Global Bioenergies agreed to develop a new process for the conversion of renewable resources into butadiene, involving research funding, multi-million euro development fees, royalty payments, repartition of exploitation rights, and a €1.4m equity investment in Global Bioenergies. Butadiene is a chemical building block used to manufacture synthetic rubber, nylon, latices, ABS […]
In Spain, researchers have developed an enzyme based biological technology for three Netherlands companies to manufacture carpets that are much lighter, sustainable, biodegradable, and 100% recyclable. At the end of their useful life, the carpets can be used as fertilizer or substrate for growing plants. Tzanko Tzanov and his team focused on finding a way […]
In Thailand, PTT Group and Mitsubishi Chemical have formed a 50/50 joint venture, PTT MCC Biochem to produce both bio-succinic acid and polybutylene succinate from sugar. Construction is planned for 2012, with production to start in late 2014. PTT MCC expects production capacity of 20,000 tonnes of PBS and 30,000 tonnes per year. Prasert Bunsumpun, […]
In Illinois, Elevance Renewable Sciences raised $50 million in a Reg D capital round with undisclosed investors. The company, which last raised $100 million in a capital round completed in December, declined to state use of proceeds. But the company is scheduled to start construction later this year on a $225 million project in Natchez, […]
In England, companiesandmarkets.com announced a new report forecasting that the global soy chemicals market will reach over $13 billion by the year 2017, spurred by the anticipated high demand from bio-diesels market and growing adoption of alternative renewable sources of energy. In particular, the soy-derived chemicals such as soy-based foamed plastics, polyols, methyl soyate, fatty […]
In China, Suzhou Hipro Polymers reports that since launching a line of nylon products made with castor oil at ChinaPlas 2010, its plant is running at full capacity of 5,000 tonnes per year. In June, Hipro started construction of a plant to bring annual production to 15,000 tonnes per year, which they expect to start […]
In Brazil, BioVerde is planning to retrofit a Sorocaba plant to produce 26MGy of biochemicals. BioVerde is spending USD $96 million, and expects the plant to produce 400 million liters of biodiesel and 400 million liters of chemicals, such as a pesticide additive from soy feedstock. Biochemical production is expected to start in 2013 at […]
In California, Codexis reports reaching 20,000 liter production of their cellulase enzymes by Mexico based Fermic S.A. Codexis anticipates using the enzyme for both biofuels and biochemicals. They state that their enzymes convert non-food biomass to fermantable sugars.
