10 January 2017
DETAILS
announced today it has acquired the assets of
Liquid Light Inc. (Liquid Light)
a renowned developer of electrochemical processes.
Liquid Light has developed
proprietary process technology
to make major chemicals from low-cost,
globally-abundant carbon dioxide (CO2).
The acquisition combines the technologies
of both Liquid Light and Avantium
to develop a world leading electro-catalysis platform
and to commercialize new process technologies
using CO2 as feedstock
to produce sustainable chemicals and materials.
Liquid Light,
which was spun out from Princeton University in 2008,
has invested more than US$35 million
on low-energy electrochemistry technologies
to convert CO2 to major chemicals.
It has filed over 100 national patent applications
of which more than twenty have been granted.
Its patent portfolio includes filings
on producing multiple chemical building blocks
used in large existing markets, including
* oxalic acid, glycolic acid,
* ethylene glycol, propylene,
* isopropanol,
* methyl-methacrylate
* and acetic acid
for the production of polymers, coatings and cosmetics.
The technology and patent portfolio of Liquid Light
will be integrated in
Avantium’s Renewable Chemistry business unit
and its existing R&D program in electrochemistry.
The combination of
* Liquid Light’s expertise in electrochemistry with
* Avantium’s expertise in catalysis and
process engineering
will be the basis of an unrivaled technology platform
to develop novel production technologies
for converting CO2 to chemicals and materials.
Tom van Aken,
Chief Executive Officer of Avantium
“The acquisition of Liquid Light is an important step
in our strategy to create and commercialize
breakthrough technologies in renewable chemistry.
It will extend our capabilities
beyond catalytic conversion of biomass.
This acquisition will enable the development
of a powerful technology platform
on the basis of CO2 feedstock, meaning
it turns waste into valuable products
such as chemicals and plastics.”
WWW.CHEMWINFO.COM BY KHUN PHICHAI
