Genencor starts shipping isoprene monomer to Goodyear

ERJ staff report (DS)

Palo Alto, California -- Genencor has announced the first transfer of BioIsoprene product to The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. The announcement follows by just six months the news that the two companies were to work together to make isoprene from genetically-modified organisms, rather than from fossil resources.

Joe McAuliffe, Staff Research Scientist at Genencor, handed four containers to Dave Benko (Director of Materials Research and Development at Goodyear) at Genencor's Palo Alto research facility. Each containing around one litre of the clear liquid "This is a historical moment, after substantial research on this technology," said Rich LaDuca, Senior Director of Business Development at Genencor. "It signifies a new era in biochemicals. We're excited to be ushering in a future where tyres and many other products will be produced with renewable materials."

BioIsoprene is derived from renewable raw materials, and represents a significant development within the biochemical and rubber industries. Aside from synthetic rubber for tire production, traditional isoprene is used for the production of a wide range of products, such as surgical gloves, golf balls and adhesives. Thus, the potential for BioIsoprene(TM) product is substantial.

The two organisations collaborate on designing an integrated production system for BioIsoprene product, and are on schedule to meet both technological and commercial milestones within the agreement. Commercial availability of the product is planned for 2013.

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Press release from Genencor