US company using palm kernel oil for green product

The venture capitalist behind Verdezyne - Andrew E. Senyei (left) and Chad Waite.

US-based industrial biotechnology company Verdezyne Inc, which is on the verge of introducing a “disruptive technology” for the production of high value renewable chemicals, has earmarked Malaysia for the commercial production of the world’s first “green” dodecanedioic acid (DDDA) to be derived from plant-based oils such as palm oil and palm kernel oil (PKO).

The DDDA, which is conventionally produced from fossil fuel, is a raw material used to produce nylon and resins in the manufacturing of many daily products such as clothing, footwear, adhesives and automobile lubricants.