Solazymes joint venture with Bunge Global Innovation LLC produced its first commercially saleable products, including algal oils and biodegradable drilling lubricant, on full-scale production lines at the joint ventures plant in Brazil.
San Francisco-based Solazymes technology uses algae to transform plant-based sugars into oils. The Solazyme Bunge Renewable Oils plant, located next to a sugarcane mill in Sao Paulo state, began manufacturing both oil and Encapso brand drilling lubricant. The production lines include 625,000 liter fermentation tanks. Production is continuing, and is expected to reach nameplate capacity within the next 12 to 18 months.
Encapso will be made at our Clinton, Iowa plant in addition to Brazil, Solazyme spokeswoman Katie Ringer told Lube Report. The plant in Brazil will also produce products for the lubes and metalworking industries, she said.
With production underway at the Solazyme Bunge Renewable Oils plant, Solazyme is manufacturing products at three large scale facilities, including our 2,000 metric tons per year integrated facility in Peoria, the 20,000 mt/y Iowa facilities in Clinton/Galva and the 100,000 mt/year facility in Brazil, Solazyme CEO Jonathan Wolfson said in a news release. Continued progress at the recently completed, adjoining co-gen facility has resulted in more reliable power and steam, enabling startup of commercial operations and production of our first commercially saleable product.
The start of production at the Solazyme Bunge Renewable Oils plant is an important milestone for this joint venture, Ben Pearcy, managing director for sugar and bioenergy for White Plains, New York-based Bunge Ltd., said in a news release. We remain committed to the success of the joint venture and see significant market opportunities that we can address together.
According to Solazymes web site, Encapso is a new, biodegradable drilling fluid additive that is encapsulated to deliver high-grade liquid lubricant precisely at the point of friction. The company said product is added to the drilling fluid, circulating freely as an inert ingredient. Because of its encapsulated product design, the drilling fluid additive stays in the system for days or weeks. Only upon encountering pressure will the capsules burst, releasing oil to reduce friction.