Sapporo Breweries is recycling brewery waste to manufacture cloth for new generation jeans.
SK Chemicals commences commercial-scale production of biopolyol [Full subscriber]
South Korea’s SK Chemicals has commenced production of biopolyol PO3G (Polyoxytrimethylene Glycol) at its plant in Ulsan with a capacity of several thousand tonnes which could expand given demand.
Unilever and Genomatica partner to develop biotech alternatives to palm oil [Full subscriber]
The consumer goods giant Unilever is partnering with the biotech firm Genomatica on a US$120 million venture to commercialise and scale alternatives to replace palm oil as feedstock in the production of everyday cleaning and personal care products via a fermentation platform.
Lignin-degrading artificial enzyme could pave way for high-value products [Full subscriber]
Researchers from Washington State University (WSU) and the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have developed an artificial peptoid-based enzyme that can digest lignin. Chemists have tried and failed to make valuable products from lignin for over a century. But the newly reported development could help change that track record of frustration.
Covation Biomaterials emerges as DuPont divests its biobased materials unit [Registered]
Following the completion of the purchase from DuPont for US$240 million, the Chinese Huafon Group has reincorporated former DuPont Biomaterials as a stand-alone company under the name Covation Biomaterials headquartered in the U.S. state of Delaware.
Circa and Valmet partner to scale up biosolvent production [Registered]
Norwegian renewable chemicals company Circa has teamed up with Finnish technology group Valmet to optimise Circa’s Furacell production process for biochemicals through the ReSolute project, which is currently underway in France.
Citric acid produced from cane bagasse [Full subscriber]
Researchers from the University of York, plus Indian and UK companies, have developed a process to convert cane bagasse into citric acid.
Bayer outsources agricultural biologicals research to Ginkgo Bioworks [Full subscriber]
Ginkgo Bioworks, the leading horizontal platform for cell programming, recently announced plans to significantly expand its platform capabilities in agricultural biologicals, from discovery to field. This is facilitated by the chemical giant Bayer outsourcing to Ginkgo Bioworks the R&D for its biologicals business.
DAB.bio’s turbocharged fermenter reduces biomanufacturing costs by 50% [Registered]
DAB.bio, a spin-out from the Delft University of Technology, is a pioneer in biomanufacturing fermentation technology. It recently announced successful fermentation runs in its FAST (Fermentation Accelerated by Separation Technology) bioreactor, demonstrating that the technology increases productivity and fermentation length, vastly improving biomanufacturing economics.
Newly discovered biodegradable polymer made from bacterial enzyme [Full subscriber]
Researchers from the University of British Columbia and Joint Bioenergy Institute (USA) have identified a bacterial enzyme that can make a new polysaccharide type, similar to biopolymer chitin. The new polymer acholetin is biodegradable and could be useful for drug delivery, tissue engineering and other applications.
Monthly Snapshot
July raw sugar fell on June 24 to 18.29 cents per lb after slumping to a low of 18.23 cents, its weakest level since March 1. August white sugar fell […]
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