In Iowa, Thesis Chemistry is working closely with the Iowa Economic Development Authority and the Nevada Economic Development Council, on a 40-acre site within the West Industrial Park of Nevada, Iowa, to build a biorefinery center to produce a range of bio-based chemicals derived from corn stover lignin.
Subject to financial and economic incentives, planned new buildings within the industrial park complex include an initial biorefinery, a corporate headquarters office building and a chemical research and development laboratory. Thesis Chemistry also plans to establish a pilot manufacturing facility in conjunction with the Biomass Energy Conversion (BECON) research center, also located in the West Industrial Park. The biorefinery is expected to be operational by early 2014.