Anellotech is a sustainable technology company commercializing its Bio-TCat™ process to produce renewable aromatic chemicals (benzene, toluene, xylenes) from non-food biomass such as loblolly pine. The company recently completed commissioning and achieved two weeks of continuous operation at its seven-story TCat-8® pilot plant in Silsbee, Texas, producing evaluation quantities of BTX for polymer prototype and bio-fuel certification programs. Ongoing R&D work focuses on optimizing process variables, validating process economics, confirming long-term catalyst performance, and generating critical data for commercial plant design. Bio-TCat products are described as cost-competitive, “drop-in” replacements for petroleum-derived aromatics and can be used in plastics (polyester, nylon, polycarbonate, polystyrene) or as renewable transportation fuels. Anellotech emphasizes the use of non-food biomass feedstocks and an efficient catalyst as primary inputs to reduce costs relative to sugar-based bio-processes and avoid competition with the food chain. The company complements its R&D with partnerships—IFPEN (process development and scale-up), Johnson Matthey (catalyst development), Axens (industrialization/licensing)—and strategic investors to advance commercialization. Anellotech develops the Bio-TCat catalytic process to convert non-food biomass into renewable aromatic chemicals (BTX) for use in plastics and transportation fuels. The process emphasizes cost-competitiveness by using wood or agricultural residues and an efficient catalyst as primary inputs, avoiding sugar feedstocks and food-chain competition. Anellotech has completed commissioning of its 25-meter-tall TCat-8 pilot plant and begun a development program to validate process economics and generate data for commercial plant design. Near-term plans include producing prototype test samples of renewable bio-chemicals for conversion to bio-based plastics and demonstrating a scalable route to bio-paraxylene production. The company complements its R&D with partners for process development, catalyst development, and industrialization, including IFPEN, Johnson Matthey, and Axens. Financially, strategic partners including Suntory and Toyota Tsusho, plus other confidential strategic investors, have provided funding to support scale-up and commercialization efforts. Anellotech develops and commercializes the Bio-TCat thermal catalytic process to produce bio-based aromatics (BTX) such as paraxylene, benzene and toluene from non-food biomass feedstocks. Its core R&D asset is the TCat-8 development and testing unit, a 25 meter-tall pilot whose commissioning began on September 1, 2016, designed to confirm viability and generate scale-up data. The company intends to use TCat-8 data to design commercial plants planned for the end of this decade and to enable 100 percent bio-based aromatics for high-volume plastics (PET, nylons, polystyrene, ABS). Anellotech partners with IFP Energies nouvelles (IFPEN) for process development and scale-up, Johnson Matthey for catalyst development, and Axens for industrialization, commercialization and licensing, and has industry partners including Suntory and Toyota Tsusho. The company filed a Form D and received a $1.5 million equity investment from a new, confidential strategic investor to support the Bio-TCat R&D program. Anellotech continues to seek additional funding and strategic partners and emphasizes use of renewable low-cost feedstocks to reduce lifecycle carbon footprint versus petroleum-derived aromatics. Anellotech develops the Bio-TCat one‑reactor catalytic process to produce renewable, petro‑identical BTX from non-food biomass feedstocks such as sustainably harvested wood, corn stover and bagasse. The company is advancing a fully integrated development and testing unit called TCat-8, a 25 meter‑tall facility installed at South Hampton Resources’ Silsbee, Texas site to generate scale‑up data and confirm continuous operation. Toyota Tsusho was announced as a multinational strategic equity investor and corporate partner; its investment has been used to fund development, installation and commissioning of TCat-8. Anellotech’s R&D and commercialization ecosystem includes joint design with IFPEN, catalyst development with Johnson Matthey, and industrialization/licensing support from Axens. Alliance partners, including Suntory, have provided capital and plan to pursue studies toward the first commercial-scale Bio-TCat plant after verification of TCat-8. The company positions its renewable BTX as drop-in replacements for petrochemical BTX for use in polyester, nylon, polycarbonate, polystyrene and other large polymer markets. Anellotech is developing the Bio‑TCat process to produce cost‑competitive renewable aromatic chemicals (BTX) from non‑food biomass using a one‑reactor catalytic approach. The process yields a hydrocarbon product substantially free of oxygen and requires only mild hydrotreating, avoiding the high hydrogen demands of multi‑step pyrolysis routes. Feedstocks include wood, corn stover and bagasse, which the company says reduces feedstock cost pressure and avoids competition with the food chain. Anellotech expects these renewable‑sourced chemicals to be produced and sold profitably against identical petroleum‑derived BTX counterparts. The company is installing a fully integrated development and testing unit, TCat‑8, at South Hampton Resources’ Silsbee, Texas facility; TCat‑8 broke ground earlier in the year and was expected to be operational in 2016. Anellotech has partnerships with IFPEN (process development and scale‑up), Johnson Matthey (catalyst development) and Axens (industrialization, commercialization and licensing) and recently received additional equity capital to advance scale‑up work.

Total raised

$27M

Funding rounds

6

Latest round

Equity

Latest activity

Mar 2018