US speciality and custom chemical manufacturer has completed an upgrade of its pilot plant in Dalton, Georgia. In particular, the company has upgraded a 0.38 m3 stainless steel reactor, which produces hot oil and steam reactions up to 288ºC, placing it on a mezzanine off the floor and giving it new insulation. The entire plant has also had a pressure cleaning and general upgrading. Another reactor of the same size will be added as demand grows, according to CEO Keith Arnold.

A consortium led by UK biotechnology company Circa Sustainable Chemicals is to develop the first commercial plant to produce levoglucosenone, the raw material for the biobased solvent Cyrene, from renewable feedstocks. It is expected to reach capacity of 1,000 tonnes/year.