Minnetonka, Minn.-based NatureWorks LLC — developer of Ingeo? lactides and biopolymers derived from 100-percent annually renewable resources including agricultural feedstocks — and Menlo Park, Calif.-based Calysta Energy Inc. — developer of a methane-based biological gas-to-liquids? (BioGTL?) and biological gas-to-chemicals? (BioGTC?) technology — have announced a collaboration to research and develop a production process for fermenting methane into lactic acid, which is used for the production of Ingeo, lactide intermediates and biopolymers. The companies anticipate that the successful commercialization of such a process could broaden and complement the range of carbon-based feedstocks currently used in Ingeo production and result in reduced Ingeo production costs.
Methane, a component of natural gas, also is generated by the decomposition of plant materials and in landfills, organic waste, anaerobic digestion and activities such as wastewater treatment. In comparative terms, its impact on climate change is reportedly more than 20 times that of carbon dioxide.
"If proven through this R&D collaboration, the new technology could be revolutionary because it will provide alternatives to the current reliance on agricultural feedstocks, and with the direct conversion of methane, it will greatly simplify the number of steps and operations needed to convert carbon into performance consumer products," said Marc Verbruggen, president and CEO, NatureWorks. "This could structurally lower the cost of producing Ingeo."
