Evonik Industries and Elevance Renewable Sciences, Incorporated, Bolingbrook, Ill. have entered into a license agreement regarding Evonik’s U.S. patents Nos. 7,738,528 and 7,652,145, directed to metathesis technology excluding Evonik’s catMETium RF product portfolio. The companies also intend to cooperate in further developing application of metathesis catalysts within Elevance’s business scope.

Elevance has developed technology for manufacturing specialty chemicals from natural oils such as soybean, palm, rapeseed, algae and Jatropha. It manufactures oils, lubricants additives, antimicrobials and other chemicals from such bio-renewables, and competes with petrochemical based products.

“Metathesis reactions are a key step in our bio-refinery process to make the conversion from natural oils to specialty chemicals,” said K’Lynne Johnson, CEO of Elevance. “Evonik’s licensed metathesis catalysts complement our existing catalyst portfolio.”

Evonik has developed metathesis catalysts within its homogeneous catalysts portfolio. “We are looking forward to Elevance’s successful application of innovative metathesis reactions in the conversion of natural oils”, says Dr. Wilfried Eul, senior vice president and head of Evonik’s Catalyst Business.