Scottish company Ingenza, a leader in the application of industrial biotechnology and synthetic biology, has become a stakeholder in Amprologix, a spin-out company from the University of Plymouth. Launched in collaboration with Frontier IP – a specialist in commercialising university intellectual property and a stakeholder in the new company – Amprologix aims to develop and bring to market novel antimicrobials to tackle antibiotic resistance, a global threat to human health.
Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, officially started construction of the first large-scale commercial sunliquid plant for the production of cellulosic ethanol made from agricultural residues. At the flagship facility, the sunliquid technology developed by the company is being used on an industrial scale for the first time. The occasion was marked with a traditional groundbreaking ceremony in Podari near Craiova in southwestern Romania, which was attended by official representatives of the Romanian government, the Swiss Ambassador Urs Herren, and a Clariant representation headed by Christian Kohlpaintner, Member of the Executive Committee.
Enerkem Inc., a world-leading waste-to-biofuels and chemicals producer headquartered in Canada, has successfully produced a clean, renewable bio-dimethyl ether (Bio-DME), a by-product of biomethanol, that could help address global climate change efficiently by replacing the use of diesel fuel in the transportation sector.
Stora Enso and the leading Nordic producer of household products Orthex bring to the market a new range of kitchen utensils made from a new biocomposite which combines the best qualities of wood and plastic. The bio-based material used to replace fossil-based plastic is made from spruce and sugarcane, which – according to both companies – reduces the carbon footprint of the products by up to 80%. The innovative products contain 98% bio-based material.
Neste, the world’s leading producer of renewable diesel headquartered in Espoo, Finland, UK-based chemical recycling company ReNew ELP, and Australian technology developer Licella are joining forces in a development project to explore the potential of using mixed waste plastic as a raw material for fuels, chemicals, and new plastics. In addition to studying liquefied waste plastic feasibility and sustainability as refinery raw material, the companies are also collaborating with the aim to facilitate regulatory acceptance for chemical recycling.
Biorizon, VITO and other partners launched the EFRO LignoValue Pilot project. By Q1 2021, this € 4.3 million project must result in a functioning pilot line in Flanders for the production of bio-aromatics from lignin/wood. The pilot meets the needs of various companies that have expressed an interest in innovative molecules and a willingness to carry out application testing.
US sustainable technology company Anellotech recently achieved new milestones at its TCat-8® pilot plant in Texas, thereby progressing its 100% bio-based bottle collaboration with global consumer beverage company Suntory.
Turin will be the Euro-mediterranean capital of the bioeconomy for a couple of days. The International Forum on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioeconomy (IFIB) goes to the Italian historical first capital from 27 to 28 September at the Cavallerizza Reale, the Congress Center of the University of Turin.
Bio-on, the Italian industrial biotech company headquartered in Bologna, has chosen Siemens automation and plant control and management systems for its bioplastic production plant at Castel San Pietro Terme, near Bologna (Italy). With the goal of making the production process more efficient and eliminating errors, the hub looks set to be one of the best examples of Industry 4.0 in the green chemicals and PHAs (polyhydroxyalkanoates) bioplastic sector.
Petronas Chemicals Group Berhad (PCG) and Leaf Malaysia have entered into a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in relation to Leaf’s proposed biorefinery project in Malaysia.
