LyondellBasell partners with Neste to produce at commercial-scale biobased polypropylene and LDPE [Full subscriber]
LyondellBasell is partnering with Neste in a venture claimed to be the first parallel production of biobased polypropylene (PP) and biobased low-density polyethylene (LDPE) at a commercial scale.
Combination of cellulose and silk protein – a superior alternative to plastic [Registered]
Silk and cellulose are biopolymers that show strong potential as future sustainable materials. They also have complementary properties, suitable for combination in composite materials where cellulose would form the reinforcing component and silk the tough matrix. A major challenge concerns balancing structure and functional properties in the assembly process. Now Aalto University and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland researchers have succeeded in overcoming this challenge.
Yeast engineered to produce 1,2,4-butanetriol from xylose [Full subscriber]
Researchers at Kobe University have successfully produced a high yield of 1,2,4-butanetriol team via direct fermentation of xylose in rice straw using an engineered yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae).
Thailand – Total Corbion PLA inaugurates 75,000 tonnes bioplastics plant [Full subscriber]
Total Corbion PLA inaugurated the world’s second-largest polylactic acid (PLA) plant in Rayong, Thailand. This increases global production capacity for the biopolymer by almost 50%.
Cashew nut shells source of environment-friendly sunscreens [Registered]
A team of international scientists led by the University of the Witwatersrand have developed the production of biobased sunscreen using the shells of cashew nuts that is environmentally-friendly compared with the ones currently produced from petrochemicals.
Effective anti-corrosion coating from mango leaf extracts [Registered]
Researchers from India’s National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology have developed a compound from mango leaf that can not only protect ships from rusting. It is claimed to be far more efficient than synthetic paints while also being non-toxic and environment-friendly.
50:50 bitumen:lignin-based asphalt binder proves effective in road tests in the Netherlands [Registered]
Researchers in the Netherlands have tested roads and cycle paths that are paved with a bitumen-like product made from the natural binder lignin. These include a section of road on an industrial site – used daily by cars and heavy trucks, some minor roads, and a cycle path at Wageningen University & Research, which is in three sections, each produced using a different lignin-based bio-bitumen.
LanzaTech secures investment of US$72 million from Novo Holdings to expand its carbon capture technology [Full subscriber]
The biotech start-up LanzaTech has secured an investment of US$72 million from Novo Holdings to scale-up its production of sustainable fuels and chemicals, according to the press release from the two firms.
Brazil – Amyris partners with Raizen for the production of zero-calorie sweeteners from cane sugar [Full subscriber]
The biotech start-up Amyris recently announced that it has reached an agreement with the sugar-ethanol giant Raizen for the supply of sugar, energy and other utilities to its new planned production plant co-located with Raízen’s Barra Mill at Barra Bonita, Brazil.
Braskem launches cane-based solvent [Full subscriber]
Braskem recently announced the production of biobased solvent that will add to the company’s already robust portfolio of speciality chemicals and has applications in segments such as inks, thinners and adhesives.
Monthly Snapshot
Market overview Raw sugar futures for March was at 12.27 cents per pound. It is apparent that the market is hobbling along, unperturbed by the latest FO Licht update suggesting 2019/20 global deficit is forecast to rise to 6.5 million […]
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