Novomer funnels carbon dioxide into plastics, nabs $14M

Novomer funnels carbon dioxide into plastics, nabs $14M

Novomer, a polymer company with disruptive potential, has made catalysts capable of transforming carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide into plastics and marketable chemicals — and now it’s raised $14 million in a second round of venture funding to scale its technology. Based in Boston, Mass.,… Continue Reading

Ethanol’s a bust, so move to chemicals, says Genomatica

Ethanol’s a bust, so move to chemicals, says Genomatica

Genomatica, a bioengineering startup that says its scientific approach can rapidly find alternatives to fossil fuel-based chemicals, has some advice for the beleaguered ethanol industry: Don’t make ethanol.

The company has bred a new microorganism capable of going through the same distiller’s process that makes ethanol,… Continue Reading

Roundup: Green chemicals get started, gaming is ubiquitous, MySpace Music slowed again, and more

Roundup: Green chemicals get started, gaming is ubiquitous, MySpace Music slowed again, and more

Genomatica creates renewable chemical from sugar water — While most chemicals are petroleum-based, several startups are trying to create new alternatives. One of the first to succeed is Genomatica, which says it has a cheap process to make 1,4-butanediol, a component chemical of many common materials,… Continue Reading

Genomatica has plans to turn the chemical industry green

Genomatica has plans to turn the chemical industry green

The chemicals business has gone through massive shifts in the past, and it’s high time for another one, according to Christopher Gann, the CEO of Genomatica, who recently left a cushy position at industry giant Dow Chemical for the startup. Chemical manufacturing is perched atop… Continue Reading