Diversa Expands Relationship with DuPont

Companies to collaborate on DOE-funded renewable resources project

06-May-2003

Diversa Corporation today announced that it has entered into a six-year alliance with DuPont to discover and develop novel biocatalysts for the production of fuel ethanol, 1,3 propanediol, and other added-value chemicals from renewable resources such as corn and biomass. As the leader of a grant consortium to develop a biorefinery capable of producing high-value chemical products from biomass, DuPont will receive $19 million in matching funds from the U.S. Department of Energy over four years. Diversa will collaborate with DuPont on the biorefinery grant and will receive research funding, as well as milestone payments and royalties on any new products developed under the six-year collaboration. Under this broad agreement, Diversa and DuPont may also agree to collaborate on additional projects.

DuPont has established its leadership position in the innovative development of new products using biotechnology in the commercialization of their 3GT (Sorona) polyester material." We look forward to working with DuPont and other members in the biorefinery consortium on this initial project to advance the use of renewable resources in sustainable chemical manufacturing processes" stated Mr. William H. Baum, Diversas Executive Vice President and Head of its Chemical, Agricultural, and Industrial Enzyme business.

The biorefinery project was selected from nearly 200 proposals submitted to the Department of Energy. Known as the "Integrated Corn-Based Bioproducts Refinery (ICBR)," the project is designed to demonstrate the feasibility and practicality of alternative energy and renewable resource technology. The ICBR would produce sugars from corn and biomass, and use them in a fermentation process to produce fuel ethanol and added value chemicals. The integrated production of fuel ethanol and PDO would yield a process with superior economics and improved environmental performance compared to current processes.

https://www.chemeurope.com/en/news/22704/diversa-expands-relationship-with-dupont.html