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Globally, the market for biobased chemicals is growing in leaps and bounds.  According to a recent report published by the National Research Council, the U.S. is on track to experience an upsurge in biobased chemicals even larger than anticipated. According to the Council’s report, “Industrialization of Biology: A Roadmap to Accelerate the Advanced Manufacturing of…

Cascades, a multinational paper making company, just announced that it’s investing $26M in an innovative, biorefinery technology at its Norampac-Cabano facility – the extraction of hemicellulose from wood chips. Hemicellulose, a natural polymer found in plant cell walls, is also called “cellulosic sugar.” It can be sold as a commodity or converted to advanced biofuels (ethanol) or…

Nanocellulose (also called cellulose nano fibers or CNF) are tiny structural building blocks derived from biomass (like trees and plants). They have great potential for conversion to lightweight, high-strength, advanced materials. Research in and commercialization of nanocellulose  is growing quickly in the U.S. and globally, with the nation’s first commercial nanocellulose plant opening this year…

A new plant designed to product 2,000 tons per year of bioplastics from potato waste will be built in Italy through a collaborative effort between Bio-On, a sustainable chemicals technology company, and Pizzoli, Italy’s largest potato operator. The type of bioplastics produced will be PHAs, or polyhydroxyalkanoates, which have numerous applications and can replace a number of traditional plastics…

Biovation, a Maine technology and design manufacturing company, developed an innovative, biobased, boot-drying technology that has performed well in tests conducted by the U.S. Marine Corps. The product, called DryRight™, is partially constructed from sustainable biopolymers. It works like this – the DryRight™ product is rolled and inserted into a wet combat boot. Over time, antimicrobial…

Biovation, a Maine technology and design manufacturing company, developed an innovative, biobased, boot-drying technology that has performed well in tests conducted by the U.S. Marine Corps. The product, called DryRight™, is partially constructed from sustainable biopolymers. It works like this – the DryRight™ product is rolled and inserted into a wet combat boot. Over time, antimicrobial…

According to this recent article in Industrial Biotechnology, global production of nanocellulose will increase substantially from now until 2020. Why such fast growth? Because cellulose, nature’s most abundant structural polymer, has limitless potential. When tiny particles of cellulose (called nano crystals or nano fibrils) are isolated from plants, you get nanocellulose. The potential applications for nanocellulose…

Last month, Biobased Maine’s Vice President, Mike Belliveau of Environmental Health Strategy Center, spoke at the Midwest Bioeconomy and Safer Products Summit. His panel, “Phthalates: Science, Policy, and Safer Alternatives” focused on finding alternative solutions to harmful chemicals through green chemistry and biobased materials. Phthalates are a large group of chemicals that are widely used in…

Biobased Maine is committed to the advancement of biobased technologies in Maine. But what does “biobased” mean? “Biobased” means that a product is made from renewable materials (like plants, trees, and other organic material). So why is this important? Is Biobased Maine committed to biobased materials because they are safer? Yes – materials that are derived from renewable sources are…