Commercial production of Solazymes algal oils commenced at two Iowa facilities, and the sale and distribution of the products began in both the United States and Brazil.
Solazyme – whose technology uses algae to transform plant-based sugars into oils – announced Jan. 30 that Archer Daniels Midland Co.s Clinton, Iowa, fermentation plant and a downstream companion facility operated by American Natural Products in Galva, Iowa, have successfully manufactured three distinct and unique algal oil products. Production at the two Iowa facilities is expected to ramp up to a total nameplate capacity of 20,000 metric tons per year within 12 to 18 months, with targeted potential expansion to 100,000 t/y in subsequent years.
Truckloads of product are now shipping from the Iowa operations for use in applications including lubricants, metalworking and home and personal care, Solazyme stated in a Jan. 30 news release. These shipments are being made pursuant to multiple supply agreements as well as spot purchases, and include reorders.
While we acknowledge that it is still early days, we look forward to the opportunity to expand our production volume and the slate of oil products available, Solazyme CEO Jonathan Wolfson said.
Volumes shipped to Brazil will be used for market development activity in advance of the opening of Solazymes Bunge renewable oil production facility, which is located adjacent to a sugarcane mill in Sao Paulo state.
San Francisco-based Solazyme claims that in the lubricants and metalworking fluids industries, its algal oils help to provide outstanding performance and a sustainable solution with better lubrication, surface tension and viscosity index, plus enhanced stability at elevated temperature, pressure and speed.