Modular Genetics issued Notice of Allowance for patent application covering its first green surfactant

FOCUS Household products Building block for change: a low-cost route to produce glucaric acid Rivertop Renewables of Montana claims to have developed a low-cost production process for glucaric acid, one of the top 12 renewable building block chemicals listed by a 2004 US Department of Energy report. The company’s proprietary carbohydrate oxidation technology is also suited for large-scale development and can be used to produce a range of organic acid platforms. Rivertop, however, is focused on using the technology to convert glucose into glucaric acid. The firm intends to initially market its glucaric acid as a detergent builder. It can also be used as a concrete admixture and as a starting material for building value-added chemicals. Glucaric acid can also be incorporated into health supplements and cosmetic ingredients. Rivertop hopes to start up a 45.3 tonne/y pilot plant in 3Q 2011 for production and testing of its glucaric acid-based formulations. The firm aims to subsequently build a world-scale glucaric acid plant with an estimated 27,000 tonne/y capacity on the basis of an agreement with a large detergent producer. Steven Donen, the new vice president of process development and engineering at Rivertop, is tasked with achieving high-volume production. Chemistry and Industry (London), 21 Feb 2011, (4), 24-26 & ICIS Chemical Business, 28 Feb 2011, 279 (8), 22

Other Ashland to showcase its complete solutions for paints and coatings at ECS 2011 Ashland Aqualon Functional Ingredients, a commercial unit of Ashland Inc, promoted its latest innovations designed to improve the performance, efficiency and value of architectural paints and industrial coatings at the 2011 European Coatings Show in Nurnberg, Germany, on 29-31 Mar 2011. Technical sales and applications experts from Ashland’s coatings additives business unit were available at stand 7-125 in Hall 7 to illustrate the benefits of their portfolio of rheology modifiers, foam MAY 2011

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control agents and specialty additives for paints and coatings. Ashland also highlighted a new family of highperformance Drewplus foam control agents, as well as Aquaflow and Aquaflow XLS nonionic synthetic associative thickeners, pHLEX neutralizing agent, and its APEO-free Dextrol and Strodex speciality surfactants. In Dec 2010, Ashland celebrated the grand opening of its new Natrosol HEC production facility in Nanjing, China. The facility has an initial capacity of 10,000 tonnes/y, and also includes an applications laboratory and technical training facilities. The plant’s infrastructure is designed for further expansion to meet the increasing market demand across Asia, and will significantly relieve the company’s HEC supply position in key European markets. Press release from: Ashland Inc, 50 East RiverCenter Boulevard, PO Box 391, Covington, Kentucky 410120391, USA, tel: +1 (859) 815-3333, website: http://www.ashland.com (9 Mar 2011)

PATENTS Sun Products patents detergent Sun Products Corp has been awarded US Patent No 7 867 970 B2 for its detergent containing a surfactant system. The surfactant system is composed of non-ionic surfactant, a builder system, anionic surfactant, lauric soap and, optionally, other detergent ingredients. It contains a soap granule with a soap concentration of no less than 90 weight per cent depending on the weight of the granule. HAPPI, Household & Personal Products Industry, Feb 2011, 48 (2 (Part 1)), 36

Modular Genetics issued Notice of Allowance for patent application covering its first green surfactant Modular Genetics Inc is a sustainable chemistry company utilizing advanced technology in synthetic biology to produce speciality chemicals that are cost competitive, provide superior performance and are environmentally friendly. Modular Genetics’ lead product is a green surfactant initially targeting the personal care market. The US Patent and Trademark Office has issued a Notice of Allowance

allowing patent claims that protect Modular Genetics’ green surfactant, a myristoyl glutamate. Independent testing by Columbia University has demonstrated Modular Genetics surfactant is tenfold more effective at reducing surface tension and three times more water soluble than the leading marketed product, two important qualities for a superior, cost competitive cleansing product. Modular Genetics’ surfactants will be used in products as diverse as shampoos and paints and coatings. Modular Genetics is in partnering discussions with leading chemical companies to commercialise these surfactants. Dr Fangli Chen, partner in the Intellectual Property Department at Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP confirms that this allowed patent provides excellent protection for Modular Genetics’ product, and solidifies its position as a leader in the green chemicals marketplace. The demonstrated ability of synthetic biology companies to commercialise patented speciality chemicals should provide confidence to investors and attract further investment to this sector of the Cleantech economy. In addition, McKinsey Consulting estimates that 50,000 organic chemicals produced from petroleum can be made from renewable feedstocks, over a $1 tn market. Based in Woburn, MA, Modular Genetics is applying its proprietary advanced technology in synthetic biology to produce products that are cost competitive, provide superior performance and are environmentally friendly. Press release from: Modular Genetics, 325 Vassar St Cambridge, MA 02139, USA, tel: +1 617 441 6000, fax: +1 617 441 6001, website: http://www.modulargenetics.com (3 Mar 2011)

LEGISLATION Commission Regulation (EU) No 207/2011 of 2 Mar 2011 amending Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) as regards Annex XVII (diphenyl ether, pentabromo derivative, and PFOS) Adopted on 2 Mar 2011. The European Commission, having regard 5