Amyris, an integrated renewable products firm, has inked a deal with Michelin, a tire specialist, to develop and commercialize Amyris’ No Compromise renewable isoprene, a key chemical ingredient in the production of rubber tires and other synthetic and natural rubber products.
Amyris looks forward to start renewable isoprene commercialization in 2015 for tire and other specialty applications such as sealants, coatings and adhesives.
Under the terms of the agreement, Michelin is committed to purchase the isoprene produced from renewable feedstocks for ten years. Additionally, Amyris holds the right to sell renewable isoprene with No Compromise performance to other clients.
Amyris has got a good opportunity to bring renewable solutions to the market as there is an increasing demand for isoprene and a need to improve the sourcing of renewable raw materials. CEO of Amyris, John Melo stated that the collaboration will help to expand Amyris’ technology for innovative products and continue Michelin’s advancement in the tire industry.
Currently, Amyris’ industrial biotechnology platform is utilized to manufacture farnesene, a 15-carbon molecule, at the commercial-scale. The technology can also be used to transform plant-based sugars into a 5-carbon molecule, isoprene. Traditionally, isoprene has been produced as a by-product by the thermal cracking of naphtha or through the C4 refinery stream synthesis.