CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY, CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT
Carbios | January 17, 2023
Carbios, a leading green chemistry firm, and Novozymes, a global leader in biological solutions, have recently announced an exclusive long-term global strategic partnership. This agreement ensures the long-term production and supply of Carbios' patented PET-degrading enzymes on a commercial scale for the first biological PET-recycling plant in the world, which is scheduled to begin production in 2025 in Longlaville, France, as well as Carbios' future licensee customers.
Since 2019, Carbios and Novozymes have partnered to produce enzyme-based solutions and address the sustainability challenge of plastic pollution on the environment, both in PET-recycling and PLA-biodegradation. Building on the present joint development agreement (JDA), under the new contract, the deal will see Carbios and Novozymes extend their collaborative efforts to develop, optimize, and produce enzymes that Novozymes will subsequently deliver to all licensees of Carbios' technology. In addition, the new agreement gives both parties exclusive rights in the partnership's field.
The strategic partnership assists the large-scale industrial deployment of Carbios' patented PET-recycling technology, beginning with its upcoming industrial reference unit in Longlaville, France, which will be the world's first biological PET-recycling plant. While the Building and operating permits have been filed with the local authorities, and construction will commence later this year. The plant's production is scheduled to begin in 2025, with a processing capacity of 50,000 tonnes of waste per year.
About Carbios
Established in 2011, Carbios SA is a green chemistry firm focused on discovering and developing enzymatic bioprocesses applied to plastic and textile polymers. The company develops a new generation of entirely biodegradable plastics with a controllable lifespan, as well as a technique that allows for endless biorecycling of plastic waste (PET) and a new biological pathway for the manufacturing of competitive bio-sourced polymers. By using its unique approach of merging enzymes and polymers, it wants to address changing consumer expectations and the problems of a broad ecological shift by tackling a significant challenge of our time: plastic and textile pollution.
Read More
CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY, SCIENCE AND RESEARCH
Albemarle | January 09, 2023
Albemarle Corporation, a pioneer in the leading global chemicals industry, announced that it had acquired a site in Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S., to build the Albemarle Technology Park. The company will invest at least 180 million dollars in constructing a world-class facility to boost novel materials research and advanced process development and accelerate the introduction of next-generation lithium products to the market.
According to Kent Masters, the CEO of Albemarle, "Albemarle Technology Park is part of our mine-to-market innovation strategy to invest in the U.S. EV battery supply chain and to be a leader in advanced lithium materials for next-generation energy storage. This facility will focus and accelerate our lithium technology leadership, better enabling the world's transition to more sustainable energy." (Source: prnewswire.com).
The company believes that breakthroughs from the new facility will improve lithium recovery, optimize production methods, and discover new forms of lithium that will enable battery performance improvements.
The State of North Carolina awarded nearly $13 million as an incentive package to Albemarle for developing an advanced product innovation, process development, and lithium materials research facility in Mecklenburg County. As a part of the Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG), this incentive package will support a portion of Albemarle's investment to redevelop the former IBM and Flextronics facility. The company anticipates creating over 200 jobs on-site, with an average annual salary of $94,000. Specifically, the team aims to triple the Ph.D. holding professionals in Albemarle Technology Park.
The vision for Albemarle Technology Park (ATP) covers novel lithium materials, manufacturing processes, and the commercialization of new products in close collaboration with strategic customers. The company expects ATP to become a lithium innovation hub that establishes technology leadership in the fast-expanding EV industry in the Southeast U.S. through co-locating essential operations and collaborations.
The organization predicts that the improved process technologies developed at the ATP will promote sustainability by decreasing energy and water consumption, unlocking new lithium resources, and enabling lithium recovery at end-of-life through economic recycling. Albemarle anticipates initial occupancy of ATP by early 2025 and a complete ATP campus by late 2026.
About Albemarle Corporation
Albemarle is a frontrunner in lithium, bromine, and catalysts. The company aims to think beyond the norm to unlock the potential of companies in critical industries such as transportation, energy, and electronics. With highly talented and knowledgeable international teams, deeply rooted values, and a collaborative customer relationship approach, Albemarle is developing performance-based solutions that enable a safer and more sustainable future.
Read More
CHEMICAL MANAGEMENT, PRODUCTS AND TECHNOLOGIES
Origin Materials | January 30, 2023
Origin Materials, Inc., the leading global carbon-negative materials firm with a mission to accelerate the global transition to sustainable materials, announced the mechanical completion of Origin 1, the firm's first commercial manufacturing plant, following the previously disclosed schedule.
Critical mechanical systems were successfully installed, and commissioning has commenced as part of mechanical completion. Work will continue on-site, including electrical work, the addition of new equipment, and the refinement of technology.
Following this significant accomplishment, work will continue at the facility, with plant commissioning to support the startup scheduled to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2023 and the startup commencing soon after. Origin 1 is anticipated to address the increasing customer demand for the company's renewable materials and enable clients to qualify products and applications beyond PET. On its next earnings call, the company aims to release forecasts for sales, EBITDA, and other financial measures for 2023.
About Origin Materials
Origin Materials, headquartered in West Sacramento, is one of the world's foremost carbon-negative materials firms. The mission of Origin is to facilitate the global transition to sustainable resources. The firm has spent more than a decade developing a platform for converting the carbon present in affordable, abundant, non-food biomass such as sustainable wood wastes into valuable commodities while simultaneously absorbing carbon. Its unique technology platform has the potential to change the manufacture of a vast array of end goods, including clothes, textiles, plastics, packaging, auto components, carpets, and toys, with an addressable market of about $1 trillion. Additionally, the company's technological platform is anticipated to deliver consistent pricing substantially decoupled from the petroleum supply chain, which is more volatile than supply networks based on sustainable wood wastes. The patent-protected drop-in core technology, economics, and carbon effect of Origin are backed by an expanding number of worldwide investors and customers.
Read More