Myriant Corporation has announced the successful development of its proprietary process for producing targeted bio-based chemicals, including succinic acid and both L(+) and D(-) lactic acid, from non-food, renewable, cellulosic feedstocks.

"The announcement is a significant step forward in our ability to continue driving the advancement and global use of cellulosic materials as the foundation for manufacturing of bio-based chemicals," said Stephen Gatto, CEO and Chairman of Myriant Corporation. "We recognized early on that these renewable feedstocks were a critical component of the technology platform for our succinic acid and lactic acid programs."

This development is an integral part of Myriants manufacturing and commercialization strategy. "We believe that Myriants ability to use non-food cellulosic feedstocks, as opposed to traditional food-based or petroleum-based feedstocks, gives it a critical global competitive advantage," said Mr. Gatto. The ability to take advantage of these abundant low-cost feedstocks allows Myriant to roll out its succinic acid and lactic acid manufacturing platforms throughout the world, without being restricted to scarce availability and expensive food-based feedstocks. Furthermore, it provides stable feedstock pricing, which will enable Myriant to offer its customers long term price stability.

In 2009, Myriant was awarded $50 million from U.S. Department of Energy, which supports the companys construction of its 30 million pound succinic acid facility in Lake Providence, Louisiana and the commercialization of its cellulosic succinic acid program. "The results achieved today testify to Myriants continued leadership in the manufacture of cost-effective bio-based chemical intermediates and builds off of Myriants core competency in industrial bio-technology," added Mr. Gatto.

The use of cellulosic biomass, an abundant global resource, will provide a renewable feedstock manufacturing base for many next-generation, bio-derived products. The success of the biochemical industry is highly dependent on a cost-effective, high-quality, and functional supply of sustainable biomass feedstocks.

Source: Myriant