As well as cosmetics applications, the wide range of industrial products the technology may be applied to will include plastics and detergents.
The researchers say that they will particularly focus on development of precursors for biobased biodegradable plastics which can serve as drop-in replacements for current petroleum-derived plastics.
“Industrial plastics, lubricants and related products are multi-billion dollar global markets, with applications in products ranging from building materials to cosmetics,” said Josh Silverman, PhD, Calysta Chief Scientific Officer.
“Current technology cannot meet the market demand for performance characteristics and cost relative to traditional petroleum-based products. We are very pleased to receive this important support for creating new, efficient materials based on our advanced biotechnology platform.”