Rivertop Renewables Begins Contract Manufacturing to Scale-Up Green Chemicals
March 15 2012 - 9:07AM
Marketwired
Rivertop Renewables (www.rivertop.com), a Montana-based renewable
chemicals company, today announced it has successfully scaled its
patented process technology from the lab to pilot manufacturing.
Rivertop has contracted with DTI (www.danchemtechnology.com), a
custom manufacturer of fine and specialty chemical products based
in Danville, Virginia, to pilot the manufacture of Rivertop's
sustainable, high performing, cost-competitive, glucarate-based
products. Product made in this initial phase of contract
manufacturing will be used to fulfill Rivertop's commercial
contracts for bio-based corrosion inhibitors. Remaining volumes of
manufactured product will be used by the company and its customers
to develop and test glucarate applications in a myriad of other
industrial and consumer markets.
"Demonstrating the capability of our technology is another key
milestone for our company and proof point for our oxidation
process," said Jere Kolstad, President of Rivertop. "Contract
manufacturing is a critical step along the way to a
capital-efficient technology deployment strategy that yields a high
return on investment."
Commencing in February 2012, Rivertop's pilot manufacturing has
produced numerous batches of glucarate-based products at
approximately 850 pounds per run. DTI's unique manufacturing
technologies and flexibility enabled the accurate scaling of
Rivertop's platform oxidation process. Data derived from these and
subsequent runs will enable Rivertop and DTI to scale to a capacity
up to 10 million pounds of contract-manufactured product per year.
This next scale of production is projected to come online in the
fourth quarter of 2012.
"The DTI team is excited to see and support the Rivertop team in
reaching another key milestone in their business strategy," said
Tim Condron, CEO of DTI. "Both teams worked tirelessly and
collaboratively to meet an aggressive project timeline to
transition the Rivertop technology from the lab to a manufacturing
environment. This is an exciting time for the Rivertop team and we
are positive the market will respond well to this new
technology."
In addition to starting contract manufacturing, Rivertop is
currently undergoing a multi-million dollar expansion of its
research and development laboratories, including the construction
of a semi-works facility, at its headquarters in Missoula, Montana.
Successful contract manufacturing combined with the coming
semi-works will enable the company to scale directly from pilot to
global scale production in the coming years, removing the need for
a costly demonstration plant.
The Department of Energy (DOE) has identified glucaric acid as
one of the top 12 chemicals of the future made from renewable
sources. Rivertop initially plans to use its glucaric acid products
as an effective and cost-competitive replacement for phosphates in
the multi-billion dollar markets for global detergent builders, as
well as corrosion inhibitors and chelants to protect transportation
and industrial infrastructure without damaging water quality.
Multiple longer-term opportunities exist in the company's research
with advanced biodegradable polymers, adhesives, and other
functional materials. Rivertop's platform process is capable of
utilizing a wide variety of sugars to produce a large spectrum of
green chemicals and bio-based products that possess a range of
properties with applications in various markets.
About Rivertop Renewables Based in
Missoula, Montana, Rivertop Renewables is innovating a new category
of science -- Progressive Chemistry. Merging proven science with
renewable resources, Rivertop Renewables is creating an abundant
and economical supply of sustainable, biodegradable and non-toxic
chemicals and bioproducts derived from renewable plant sugars.
Media Contact: Nate Kommers Scoville PR for Rivertop
(206) 625-0075 x2 Email Contact