Bulk Chemicals

Sustainable, closed-loop metal recycling process. The AquaRefining™ process is a clean, water-based recycling process for ultra-high purity lead. The process opeartes at room-temperature in a closed-loop and is nonpolluting. The closed-loop system enables the recycling of chemicals and water. This process yields products with higher quality and lower costs and reduces greenhouse gas emisisons by eliminating the smelting process. Recycling metals will lower the reliance on unsafe and toxic mining operations.

Enzymes that prevent contaminants, or stickies, from agglomerating and interfering with recycling, pulp, and paper machine operations. Stickies downgrade quality, reduce output, and cost the pulp and paper industry tens of millions of dollars annually. Optimyze® prevents stickies from agglomerating and interfering with recycling, pulp, and paper machine operations, reducing downtime, producing packing with improved quality, and increasing profits. This technology uses an esterase enzyme that serves as a catalyst for the hydrolysis of stickies into poly, a water-soluble polymer.

Flexible foam derived from soybean oil. Polyols are the key ingredient in making foams flexible and versatile. BiOH® polyols are soy-based ingredients for flexible foam in furniture, mattresses, pillows, and cushions. Traditional foams are derived from petroleum-based products. These polyols also have superior performance. The process occurs in mild temperatures and atmospheric pressure and is energy efficient and cost-effective. Using BiOH® technology, customers are able to create foam products with renewable content ranging from 5 to 20%.

Catalysts for the production of hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is generally clean and environmentally friendly, but its conventional production is not. The conventional production of hydrogen peroxide uses several toxic reagents. This novel method uses a metal catalyst, NxCat, to produce hydrogen peroxide directly from oxygen and hydrogen gases and only produces water as a byproduct. The process is also cost-effective and less energy-intensive. The catalyst is also manufactured from safe and renewable feedstocks.

Production of propylene oxide via hydrogen peroxide. Propylene oxide (PO) is a chemical building block for detergents, polyurethanes, de-icers, food additives, and personal care items. The traditional production of PO creates byproducts and significant waste. This novel route produces PO with hydrogen peroxide by using a catalyst, eliminating most of the waste and significantly reducing water and energy use. The production of wastewater is reduced by 70-80%, and energy use is reduced by 35%. This process has high yields and only produces water as a byproduct.

Enzyme that modifies wood composition and increases its capacity for becoming strong and quality paper. Paper strength is traditionally improved by using more expensive pulps, more energy, and different chemical additives. Maximyze® uses natural enzymes from fermentation. These enzymes modify cellulose to create more sites for hydrogen bonding, which translates into more fibrils that bind the wood fibers together. This technology reduces the need for high-cost materials and other methods. 

Alumina processing aid designed to prevent the formation of sodalite. Sodalite scale commonly accumulates in the Bayer Process. Traditionally, sodalite scale was addressed after its formation, resulting in a costly and inefficient treatment process. MAX HT® reduces energy and freshwater consumption in alumina processing by addressing sodalite scale before it becomes problematic.

Activator chemicals that work with hydrogen peroxide to replace chlorine bleaches. TAML™ (tetraamido-macrocyclic ligand activators) activators can be used to prepare wood pulp for papermaking and remove stains from laundry. This technology eliminates chlorinated byproducts from wastewater streams and saves energy and water. This process minimizes pollution by employing reagents and processes that mimic those found in nature. More specifically, Terry Collins developed activators with the natural oxidant hydrogen peroxide.

Process for renewable bio-1,4-butanediol (BDO). Geno BDO™ is a process that derives BDO from plant sugars instead of fossil fuel feedstocks. BDO can be used in a variety of everyday materials and consumer products, such as spandex, shoes, cars, and electronics. This novel process is cost-effecting and estimated to result in 90% carbon reduction. Producing all BDO with the Geno BDO™ process would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 14 million tons.

Carbon recycling technology. This technology uses bacteria to convert waste gas (pollution) to fuels and chemicals. Carbon gas streams are common byproducts of established processes. LanzaTech utilizes these gas streams to produce fuels such as ethanol and chemicals such as 2,3-butanediol at high selectivities and yields. LanzaTech's microbes can also consume H2-free CO-only gas streams due to a biological water-gas shift reaction with CO2 and CO catalyzed by carbon monoxide dehydrogenase.