INVISTA and LanzaTech to collaborate on development of gas-fermentation process technology
Companies aim for waste-CO2-to-chemicals in new pact
WICHITA, Kan. (May 13, 2014)—INVISTA and LanzaTech signed a research and development agreement focused on the development of gas-fermentation process technology for the production of industrial chemicals from carbon dioxide and hydrogen gas (CO2 and H2) feedstocks.
According to the agreement, INVISTA and LanzaTech will collaborate on projects to develop gas-fermentation technologies to convert CO2/H2 feedstocks into a range of industrial chemicals using proprietary INVISTA host organisms and metabolic pathways. If successful, the first commercialization of this technology is expected as early as 2018.
“This new agreement builds on INVISTA’s existing collaborations with LanzaTech,” said Warren Primeaux, president of INVISTA Intermediates. “It will provide INVISTA increased access to LanzaTech’s world-class gas-fermentation process technology and help accelerate the commercialization of a number of exciting bio-derived processes currently under development at INVISTA’s bioscience laboratory in Wilton, United Kingdom.”
INVISTA believes biotechnology has the potential to significantly improve the cost and availability of several chemicals and raw materials that are used to produce its current products. It views gas fermentation as a key enabling technology that will allow the use of potentially advantaged gas feedstocks — such as waste industrial gases including carbon dioxide.
According to Jennifer Holmgren, CEO of LanzaTech, this new agreement highlights the potential of gas fermentation in the bio commodities market. “Together LanzaTech and INVISTA have the capabilities to create step-change improvements for today’s chemical supply chain. This new agreement strengthens our relationship and signals the increased confidence INVISTA has in our capabilities.”
About LanzaTech
LanzaTech is a leader in gas fermentation technology that provides novel and economic routes to fuels and high value chemicals from waste carbon streams. By leveraging waste resources, LanzaTech’s solutions mitigate carbon emissions from industry without adversely impacting food or land security. LanzaTech’s unique process, certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials, creates sustainable fuels and platform chemicals that serve as building blocks for everyday products such as rubber and plastics. LanzaTech, a company founded in New Zealand and headquartered in the U.S. is now a global organization with partnerships and investors in the U.S., India, Malaysia, Japan, and the UK with two commercial facilities slotted for construction in 2015 in China.
About INVISTA
With leading brands including LYCRA®, COOLMAX®, CORDURA®, STAINMASTER® and ANTRON®, INVISTA is one of the world’s largest integrated producers of chemical intermediates, polymers and fibers. The company’s advantaged technologies for nylon, spandex and polyester are used to produce clothing, carpet, car parts and countless other everyday products. Headquartered in the United States, INVISTA operates in more than 20 countries and has about 10,000 employees.
Source: Lanzatech, press release, 2014-05-13.