Blue Marble, Bionavitas ink biochemicals-from-algae deal

Two U.S.-based renewable biochemical companies said today they are planning a partnership, with Blue Marble Energy producing high-margin biochemicals from microalgae supplied by Bionavitas.

Redmond, Wash.-based Bionavitas developed what it has branded as Light Immersion Technology, which it says enables the speedy and cost-effective production of algae for environmental remediation, manufacturing health and nutraceutical products, and producing biofuels.

The bioscience company’s patent-pending technology prevents what is known as algae "self-shading" by allowing more light to penetrate the algae biomass. This helps the algae to grow deeper and thicker, the company said.

Blue Marble Energy developed technology to produce biochemicals from organic biomass. These biochemicals include esters, which are chemicals used in food, fragrance, plastics, resins and adhesives.

The Seattle-based company is focused on producing drop-in replacements to petrochemicals that are safe, carbon-neutral, and sustainable.

Financial details of the partnership were not disclosed.

"Our Light Immersion Technology gives us the ability to efficiently produce high quality algae that is uniquely suited for Blue Marble's processing technology," said Bionavitas CEO Michael Weaver, in a news release.

Blue Marble and others in the algae biofuel space such as LiveFuels and Solazyme are all working to scale production volumes for a fuel hungry economy (see New algae fuel alchemy gets $3M).

The global biodiesel market is estimated at $500 billion a year, while petroleum-based acrylic has a global market of $10 billion. Although the market for biochemicals and bioplastics is smaller than biofuels, the margins are higher (see OPX's microbe experiments attract $17.5M for pilot plant).

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