ZeaChem

ZeaChem was an industrial biotechnology company focused on the development of biorefineries for the production of advanced biofuels and bio-based chemicals. The company utilized a proprietary hybrid technology that combined acetogen fermentation with chemical catalysis to convert cellulosic biomass into high-value products such as ethanol, acetic acid, and ethyl acetate. By employing the bacterium Moorella thermoacetica, ZeaChem achieved high carbon efficiency, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional petroleum-based processes. Their process was unique in that it avoided the production of carbon dioxide during the fermentation stage, maximizing the yield of carbon from feedstock to product. Although the company successfully operated a demonstration-scale plant in Boardman, Oregon, it faced challenges in reaching full commercial scale and has since ceased major operations.