New agreement to further biochemicals research

Sustainable products company UPM  and US cellulosic sugar producer Renmatix have signed a non-exclusive joint development agreement in the area of biochemicals.

Under its terms, both companies will further develop Renmatix’s water-based process to convert woody biomass into low-cost sugar intermediates for subsequent downstream processing into biochemicals.

‘Access to second generation, lignocellulosic sugars through a process that uses almost no consumables is a crucial factor in this technology’s attractiveness,’ says director of UPM biochemicals, Michael Duetsch.

The Renmatix process, branded Plantrose, employs water at high temperatures and pressures to breakdown biomass through supercritical hydrolysis. It claims, under such conditions, water can act as both a powerful solvent and catalyst, creating rapid reactions.