14 DAY TRIAL // An innovative, cost-effective process to obtain bio-based alternative to petroleum-based fuels and chemicals has just been presented by Renmatix. Dubbed Plantrose, the process comes as the cheapest way to cellulosic sugar and the first to use water to do so.
The company has already scaled its process to convert three dry tons of woody biomass to sugars daily at the demonstration facility in Kennesaw, Georgia.
However, in order to further extend operations, Renmatix is commencing technical and business operations in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.
Renmatix explains that before the Plantrose process, supercritical water had never successfully yielded sugar from biomass at significant scale. The process breaks down a wide range of non-food biomass in seconds, uses no significant consumables and produces much of its own process energy.
Current methods of breaking down biomass require expensive enzymes or harsh chemicals, and can take up to three days to yield sugars. With its water-based approach, Renmatix is able to provide cellulosic sugar affordably and on large-scale.
"Sugar has game-changing potential for the bio-based fuels and chemicals market," said John Doerr, a partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Renmatix board member. "The Renmatix breakthrough enables access to affordable non-food based sugar on an industrial scale."
The unveiling of Renmatix’s Plantrose process was framed by a roundtable of industry leaders, moderated by legendary investor John Doerr of Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (KPCB).
The panel also comprised Paul Bryan, head of the Department of Energy's Biomass Program; John Melo, CEO of Amyris, a synthetic biology company working to reduce the cost of lower carbon, second generation, biofuels and chemicals; and DuPont's industrial biosciences strategy leader, Vik Prabhu.
Petroleum-based ingredients are subject to significant price fluctuations, occasional supply shortage situations, and negative environmental effects.
This is why, by using their ingredients, Renmatix says their customers will reduce price volatility, avoid supply shortages and reduce their environmental footprint.